Woman Dragged, Hit By Car While Fleeing Domestic Situation: Cops

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A Libertyville woman who attempted to escape another woman's car ended up being dragged along and hit by the vehicle, authorities said Friday.

The driver, Katrice Brown, 35, of the 1400 block of West Park Avenue in Libertyville, now faces aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle and DUI - alcohol charges. She also is charged with two counts of aggravated domestic battery in connection with the incident that started after Brown and the other woman got into an argument at a restaurant and bar in the area of Route 45 and Gages Lake Road Thursday evening, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Meanwhile, the Libertyville woman is recovering after sustaining significant injuries, authorities said.

Police said they were first called to the area of Route 45 and Gages Lake Road at about 6:40 p.m. after receiving multiple reports from callers who saw the woman being dragged and struck by Brown's vehicle.

Officers learned the duo left the establishment and got into the vehicle. As Brown was getting ready to leave, the younger woman tried to get out of the vehicle and away from Brown, but as she was getting out, Brown stepped on the accelerator, police said.

The woman was dragged from the passenger side of the vehicle. She was then struck by the car after being dragged along, authorities said.

Brown is accused of fleeing the scene. She returned a short time later and threatened to shoot the woman, ordering her back into the vehicle, police said. The woman crawled back in, and Brown fled southbound in the car, according to authorities.

A regional alert was sent out to area law enforcement agencies letting officers know they should be on a lookout for the car. A short time later, a Grayslake Police Department officer spotted the car in the area of Route 45 and Brae Loch Road in Grayslake, according to the news release.

Sheriff's office deputies responded to the "high risk traffic stop" and began communicating to the driver to get out of her car with her hands up. Brown got out and started yelling "shoot me" and "kill me," police said.

Deputies used techniques from "de-escalation training" to calm Brown, authorities said. Several minutes later, deputies were able to take her into custody without using force.

The Libertyville woman was taken by ambulance to an area hospital with significant injuries from being struck and dragged by the car. She is expected to recover.

"This was an incident that could have ended much differently if it were not for our trained, dedicated, and professional staff who worked together to resolve this incident safely for everyone involved," said Sheriff John Idleburg in a statement.

Brown remains in custody at the Lake County Jail on a $250,000 bail.