Hit-And-Run Chase With Deerfield Man Results In Police Injuries

DEERFIELD, IL — A Deerfield man, whom police shocked with a Taser four times during his arrest, is accused of felony aggravated battery following an incident last month. Anthony Christopher Cauley, 29, of the 1600 block of N Mason Avenue, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer and one count of resisting a peace officer causing injury, according to a May 27 arrest report obtained by Patch through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Cauley, who was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger, hit a concrete median in Lake Forest and then was pursued by police. Eventually, that pursuit was terminated, according to the report. Shortly after that, police said Cauley hit another car head on after exiting a gas station parking lot and fled from that scene. He struck three vehicles in Highland Park, fled that scene, and was traveling westbound on Deerfield Road at around 5:42 p.m. when Deerfield police were notified of the hit-and-run by Bannockburn police, according to the report.

A Deerfield police officer said he saw Cauley in his car stuck at the southwest corner of the intersection of Waukegan and Deerfield roads, revving his engine while in drive. His spinning wheels were causing "lots of smoke," the officer said. Cauley then tried to put his car in reverse, which directed it toward the officer's squad car, according to the officer's account.

Another Deerfield police officer arrived on the scene, and the two turned on their emergency lights to block traffic. Upon exiting their vehicles, the officers told Cauley to shut his car off and put his hands up. Cauley then got out of his car with his right hand grabbing his right side, police said.

Police said Cauley's right elbow protruded out as if he was reaching for something in his right waist band. One officer said he saw a black object in Cauley's right hand and pointed his gun at Cauley, not knowing if he was holding a weapon.

Police said Cauley then started to run eastbound on Deerfield Road. After a handful of steps, police said they realized he was holding an iPhone, and the officer put his gun back in its holster. The two officers, according to the report, began chasing Cauley in between vehicles in the westbound lane of Deerfield Road. While running and ducking between cars, police said Cauley kept reaching at his waistband, which cause them to "be more cautious" during the pursuit.

Cauley crossed the eastbound lanes of Deerfield Road and ran toward a Starbucks patio, according to the report. When one officer gained ground and was within five feet of Cauley, he pushed a chair behind him and took out the legs of the officer, according to police. The officer took a hard fall and sustained injuries, police said.

The other officer continued to pursue Cauley into the parking lot of Village Centre, where he was eventually cornered by both officers, according to the report. A third police officer arrived on the scene, and the three repeatedly told Cauley to get to the ground, which they said he refused to do.

Police were finally able to grab Cauley from behind and began to arrest him, but he resisted handcuffs by making his body stiff and reaching for his waistband several times, police said.

Officers said they warned Cauley multiple times that a Taser would be used if he didn't comply. Following four Taser stuns, police were able to get one handcuff on Cauley, but they continued to struggle with placing the other on his left wrist, police said.

Police used a second set of handcuffs to take custody of Cauley, who said during the attempts, "Please don't kill me," according to the police report.

Cauley was taken to the Highland Park Hospital emergency room due to breathing difficulties. Both officers sustained non-life threatening injuries during the pursuit, police said.

Cauley attended Lake County bond court via Zoom on May 29 and was given a $100,000 bond before being taken back to Lake County Jail. A return court date had not been set at the time of the police report.