Fleeing Felon With Gun Almost Runs Over Cop's Foot: Prosecutor

OAK LAWN, IL -- A fleeing felon almost ran over an Oak Lawn police officer’s foot when he was spotted sitting in a parked car of a closed business rolling a blunt, prosecutors said. Brendan Buie, 23, of Chicago, appeared before Cook County Judge Michael Kane on felony charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. Buie has a 2012 burglary conviction out of McDonough County, IL.

According to the charges, a patrol officer noticed a car with dark tinted windows sitting in the lot of a shuttered Mobil station at 10718 S. Cicero Ave. on Jan. 31. The officer approached the vehicle where he saw a man later identified as Buie rolling a blunt, the prosecutor said. The officer reportedly saw Buie reach under the driver’s seat. The officer told Buie to put his hands on the steering wheel.

When the officer was checking Buie’s driver’s license, Buie allegedly began reaching under the front seat a second time. The officer opened the driver’s side door and Buie slammed it shut again, the prosecutor said. On the third attempt to open the driver’s side door, Buie allegedly began to back out of the lot while the car door was still open, barely missing driving over the officer’s foot.

Police pursued the vehicle northbound on Cicero Avenue, when it turned east onto 105th Street. The prosecutor said Buie blew through four stop signs. After coming to a dead end at a roundabout, Buie got out of the vehicle and began running on foot. Police gave up the chase when they saw Buie allegedly drop an object as he ran. The prosecutor said officers found a loaded Glock near some bushes. A loaded magazine was also recovered from the car, according to police. Buie was picked up by Chicago police walking through the streets, who notified Oak Lawn police. The Oak Lawn officer still had Buie’s driver’s license.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Buie lives with his family and recently acquired his CDL license. Bail was set at $150,000. Buie is due back in court Feb. 22.