High-Speed Car Chase Ends in Oak Lawn with Shots Fired

Caption: Latasha Kennedy, 37, of Chicago, and Clarence Adams, 34, of Matteson, are facing multiple felony charges stemming from an armed robbery in Alsip, IL, on June 14. | Cook County Sheriff

A high speed police chase ended at an Oak Lawn parking garage early Sunday morning, with a Hometown police officer firing four shots at an armed robbery suspect to stop him from backing into another officer, Alsip police said.

Clarence Adams, 34, of Matteson, and Latasha Kennedy, 37, of Chicago, appeared in court Tuesday afternoon, where both are facing felony charges stemming from an alleged armed robbery that occurred in Alsip. Additional charges are pending.

An Alsip police news release stated that police responded to the Speedway at 12700 S. Pulaski Road, Alsip, for an armed robbery around 5:30 a.m. June 14.

According to the charges, a customer told police that a woman driving a Volkswagen pulled up next to him. A man, later identified as Adams, got out of the car walked over to the customer outside the gas station. Adams allegedly pointed a gun at him demanding money.

After the customer turned over cash and other personal property, Adams got back into the car and was driven away by the woman, later identified as Kennedy, Alsip police said.

Alsip police sent a flash with the suspects’ description and make of car. The Volkswagen was spotted by Evergreen Park police at 102nd Street and Pulaski, traveling at a high rate of speed. The Evergreen Park officer attempted a traffic stop in an alley off Pulaski Road.

The officer said the car accelerated when he approached and took off again, and a high-speed chase ensued. The Evergreen Park officer and other units from Hometown, Oak Lawn and Alsip pursued the vehicle to the parking garage at 5115 Museum Drive, in Oak Lawn.

Officers blocked the garage exits with their patrol cars. Adams and Kennedy were found huddled in the stairwell. Both were ordered numerous times to show their hands, but Adams fled back into the Volkswagen, Alsip police said.

As Kennedy was taken into custody, police said Adams got back into the vehicle and drove it to the parking garage exit. For the next several minutes Adams allegedly drove forward and reverse at a high rate of speed between two levels of the parking garage, ignoring orders to stop and shut off the vehicle.

When Adams started to back up again, another officer was close to the car. The Hometown officer fired four rounds at the driver in an attempt to protect the other officer.

The Volkswagen stopped and Adams was taken into custody. No significant injuries were reported.

Officers recovered a loaded gun at the scene. Maximum speeds during the car chase were estimated at 85 mph, Alsip police said.

Kennedy and Adams were each charged with one count of armed robbery. Kennedy was also charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer. Adams received an additional count of criminal damage to state supported property.

Prosecutors said in court on Tuesday that Kennedy and Adams are also being investigated for an armed robbery that took place in Harvey.

Chicago police are investigating the two for a vehicular hijacking, as the Volkswagen they were driving was reported stolen.

During Tuesday’s hearing, the public defender said Kennedy is a mother of five whose sister has been caring for the children since her arrest.

Adams is a seasonal security guard and indigent, the public defender told the judge.

A Cook County judge in Bridgeview set bail for Adams at $350,000. Kennedy’s bail was set at $250,000. Both are due back in court for the Alsip case on July 9.

Adams and Kennedy have court hearings scheduled in Markham and at 26th and California later this week on the other pending cases, prosecutors said.