COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Two men now charged with attempted murder of a police officer sped down South Burley Avenue, a Chicago cop gripping the side of their van, prosecutors said.
During a routine traffic stop Tuesday, a Chicago police officer was arresting a driver for failing to show proof of insurance or produce his driver's license when a van pulled up alongside the pair in the 8700 block of South Burley Avenue, prosecutors said.
Wilbur Driver, 40, apparently saw his chance to escape, yelled "open the door" and broke away from the officer, prosecutors said, before he jumped into the driver's seat alongside Romell Burgess, 21.
When they hit the gas, the officer had to jump onto the running board of the van to "avoid being dragged," prosecutors said. With the van going about 40 mph, the officer hung on for one block while the two men inside tried to push him off the vehicle, prosecutors said.
When the van crashed into a fence, Driver and Burgess tried to flee but were caught, prosecutors said.
The two appeared in court Wednesday charged with attempted murder of a police officer. A Cook County judge ordered Driver held on $350,000 bail and Burgess on $150,000.
The officer suffered cuts and bruises on his forearms.
