Drunk Car Thief Crashes Stolen Vehicle Twice, Breaks Cop's Finger: Romeoville Police

ROMEOVILLE, IL -- A drunken man stole a car that was left unlocked and running outside a Romeoville 7-Eleven, then crashed it twice while attempting to flee before injuring an officer during a scuffle with cops, police said.

Ronald E. Smith, 49, of 18013 Flamingo Drive in Tinley Park, faces multiple felonies in the post-St. Patrick's Day incident.

Police said a customer left a vehicle running outside the 7-Eleven at 235 W. Romeo Road, at around 12:55 a.m. While the victim was inside the convenience store, Smith took the opportunity to jump into the car and drive off, but not before hitting a delivery truck that was parked in the 7-Eleven lot, police said.

The victim called police, and an officer was able to locate the vehicle a short distance away, but Smith would not pull over, according to Romeoville Police Cmdr. John Ferdinardo.

Smith then crashed the stolen vehicle into a parked car in the 200 block of Fremont Avenue before bailing out and attempting to flee on foot, police said. He didn't get far before an officer caught up with him in a backyard, also in the 200 block of Fremont, and struggled with police attempting to take him into custody.

Ferdinardo said one officer suffered a broken finger in the struggle.

Smith refused medical treatment, according to Ferdinardo, and was taken to the Will County jail, where he was booked on charges of aggravated DUI, receiving/possessing a stolen vehicle, aggravated battery to a peace officer, resisting an officer, fleeing/attempting to elude an officer, driving on a revoked or suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to give information/render aid after an accident, seat belt violation, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, driving an uninsured vehicle, failing to drive on the right side of the road, failure to notify the owner of an unattended vehicle of damage.

According to Will County jail records, Smith remained in custody Tuesday on $165,000 bond.

Ronald Smith/Photo via Will County Sheriff's Department