Shorewood Woman's Car Faces Joliet Police Forfeiture

SHOREWOOD, IL — A woman who lives on Ravinia Drive in Shorewood has a June 9 hearing at the Will County Courthouse to determine whether her vehicle should become a forfeited asset for the Joliet Police Department.

Sarah Deshong has been charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding the police stemming from a March 14 attempted traffic stop by Joliet police on March 14.

According to the forfeiture complaint, Deshong's Chrysler PT Cruiser was traveling on Joliet's east side, along Second Avenue near Wilson Avenue, and her tail light was malfunctioning. A patrol officer saw this and turned on his squad car's flashing lights and sirens.

Deshong's car, however, sped up and kept driving on Second Avenue, the court records show. The driver being chased by Joliet police drove through a stop sign at Rowell Avenue and was speeding at least 21 to 25 mph above the posted limit, the forfeiture indicated.

Additionally, the driver ignored two more stop signs while trying to flee the Joliet police officer: a stop sign at Rowell Avenue and Fourth Avenue, and a stop sign at Miles and Elmwood, court files show.

The Joliet officer chose to end the chase near Bennett and Fourth Avenue. Shortly after the pursuit was halted, a different Joliet officer located the vehicle stopped in front of a house at 205 Rowell Ave.

Deshong was still inside the car, and Joliet police detained her for questioning.

"Deshong stated that a friend was driving and fled the traffic stop because he does not have a driver's license and has an active Will County warrant," the forfeiture reflected. "Deshong advised that she jumped in the driver's seat after her friend stopped because he left the vehicle in drive when he fled on foot, and it was still moving."

Joliet police arrested Deshong that night on charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding, and she was subsequently released from custody, court files show.

Now, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow wants a judge to declare Deshong's vehicle a forfeited asset for the police and order it be sold at public auction, destroyed or delivered to a law enforcement agency in Illinois.