Wanted Man and Woman Fled from Lake County Sheriff's Deputies

WAUKEGAN, IL — The Lake County Sheriff's Department searched for a man and a woman who fled their vehicle after a high-speed police chase in Waukegan on Sept. 7.

At around 3:12 p.m., a Lake County Sheriff's Deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a 2004 Lincoln SUV traveling northbound on McAree Road in Waukegan. The deputy was aware that the driver, Lee Hernandez, 31, of Beach Park, had an active arrest warrant and a revoked driver's license.

Aliyah J. Massari, 21, of Kenosha, was in the front seat of Hernandez's vehicle.

The deputy activated his emergency lights to conduct the traffic stop on Hernandez. Hernandez began to slow down, but then quickly accelerated at a high rate of speed. He committed numerous traffic violations while the deputy followed him in his vehicle.

Hernandez turned eastbound onto Glen Flora Avenue and by the time the sheriff's deputy made the same turn, Hernandez was out of sight.

The deputy checked the surrounding area for Hernandez's vehicle and found it crashed into a house in the 1900 block of Glen Flora Avenue. There were people inside the home, but no one was injured.

Hernandez and Massari both fled from the vehicle after they ran into the house.

Waukegan Police Officers assisted in the search for the fugitives. Lake County Sheriff Deputies quickly located Hernandez and Massari walking in the area.

Both Hernandez and Massari were brought to Vista East Hospital, where they were treated and then released back into police custody.

Hernandez was charged with: four counts of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, Leaving the Scene of a Traffic Crash, Failure to Give Information after a Traffic Crash, Attempt Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Numerous Traffic Citations. He's being held at the Lake County Jail on a $100,000 bail and is scheduled for court on Sept. 26.

Massari was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, two counts of Identity Theft, two counts of Forgery, three counts of Unlawful Possession of another's Credit Card. She's being held at the Lake County Jail on $100,000 bail and is scheduled for court on Sept. 29.

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