Rush Hour Traffic Helps Cops Catch Carjacker: River Forest Police

RIVER FOREST, IL — It's hard to find many people who are thankful for rush hour traffic, but River Forest police were grateful after rush hour traffic on Harlem Avenue helped them catch up to a carjacker Wednesday. Police said after Shannon D. Mitchell, 20, of Chicago, and two juveniles were spotted in a Kia Soul that had been reported stolen, Mitchell allegedly got into a man's car and began driving down Harlem Ave., dragging the man for part of the way.

Mitchell and the two juveniles were spotted in the stolen Kia Soul at a TCF bank in the 800 block of N. Harlem Ave., police said. As a man tried to exit the bank in his car, Mitchell allegedly entered that car through the passenger side and pushed the man out of the driver's seat, Chicago Tribune reports.

The man then tried to get back into his car, but Mitchell kept driving. According to Chicago Tribune, the owner of that car reported the incident to police.

Forest Park Police then reportedly spotted the hijacked car near the intersection of Harlem and Jackson.

The officer turned on their lights and attempted to pull Mitchell over, but he tried to flee, Chicago Tribune reports. He was then caught in a rush hour traffic jam and rear-ended a car, police say. Police reportedly caught up to Mitchell after he attempted to run off on foot.

The young boys who had been seen with Mitchell in the Kia Soul were later apprehended by Oak Park Police in the 900 block of South Menard Ave.

The youths were taken to juvenile court and Mitchell was charged with possession of stolen motor vehicle and vehicular hijacking.

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