Drunken Driver Crashes Into Squad Car: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A drunken driver faces charges after he crashed his car into a squad car near Spring Grove, authorities said. A Fox Lake Police Department officer was conducting a traffic stop on Route 12 in the area of Lake Vista Terrace at about 1:50 a.m. on Friday when a second officer arrived at the scene, activated his emergency lights and got out of his squad car. A short time later, a northbound Volkswagen SUV slammed into the back of the second squad car at the scene, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The driver, Clinton P. Harris-Snelton, 30, of the 37900 block of North Harold Place in unincorporated Spring Grove, was arrested for drunken driving and taken to the Lake Couunty Jail. He was also cited for a Scott's Law violation, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving without insurance, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

Harris-Snelten was processed and released on a recognizance bond. He is next expected in court on Aug. 5.

No one was injured in the crash, authorities said.

“This reckless act could have resulted in the loss of life or serious injury," Fox Lake Chief of Police Jimmy Lee said. "I’m very grateful our officers weren’t injured, nor were the occupants of the vehicle they had pulled over.”