Man Crashed Car In Orland With Catalytic Converters, Pot And Cash

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park police arrested a 29-year-old Chicago man after they said he ran from police with multiple stolen catalytic converters in his car.

According to officials, police were called to the Bettenhausen Dodge dealership at around 1:50 a.m. Thursday when a security company noticed a "suspicious vehicle" pull into the lot with its lights off.

When police arrived, officers said they saw a man walking through the lot who began to run when he saw police cars. He hopped in his car and sped southbound on 94th Avenue, running a red light and hitting another car in the process, officials said in a news release.

After hitting the car at the intersection of 167th Street and 94th Avenue, the man got out of his vehicle and fled on foot. Police said they were later able to find him attempting to climb on top of a shed in a residential area of 167th Street.

The man was arrested and identified as Tyree D. Johnston. A search of Johnston's vehicle revealed five catalytic converters, a saw, $2,000 in cash and 78 grams of marijuana which police said were packaged to sell.

Employees from the Bettenhausen Dodge dealership were able to identify one of the converters in Johnston's vehicle as one missing from a van in the dealership's parking lot.

No injuries were reported in the crash, according to officials from Orland Park Fire Department.

Johnston was charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors along with a slew of traffic citations including possession of stolen motor vehicle parts, possession of cannabis with intent to deliver and reckless driving.

The man was issued a bond for $5,000. As of Thursday, it was unsure if Johnston posted the portion of the D-Bond.