CHICAGO — A police chase of a suspected burglar began and ended in front of a Lakeview elementary school Wednesday, when an unmarked police car and a Mercedes Benz crashed.
Dennis Riley, 35, of the 6300 block of South Ingleside Avenue, was arrested after he allegedly committed a burglary at a home in the 3800 block of North Southport Avenue. Prosecutors Thursday said Riley was seen leaving the building with a woman's possessions.
Riley "took off" in a 2003 Mercedes Benz and police chased gave chase. He didn't get far, though, as the unmarked police car, a Ford Fusion, collided with the passenger side of the Mercedes, pushing it into a parked Toyota Camry, and tearing off the Camry's rear passenger-side wheel.
Riley, who was on parole for a prior vehicular hijacking conviction, was arrested shortly before 11:30 a.m. On Thursday, he was ordered held on $250,000 bond.
The incident disrupted outdoor activities at Blaine Elementary School, 1420 W. Grace St., Wednesday, but no children were at risk, the school's principal said in an email to families.
There were no gunshots and the suspects had no weapons, Troy LaRiviere said.
The incident shut down Southport between Grace and Byron streets until well into the afternoon.
"We suspended Field Days, got all students inside the building, and ensured all external doors were locked," he wrote. "In addition to those steps, we followed CPS procedures that all students remained inside a locked classroom."
The crash happened about 11:20 a.m., and the school returned to normal activities by 11:45 a.m., LaRiviere said.
Several students witnessed the incident, he said.
"Our administration and crisis team has been talking to those students and other students who were emotionally affected by the incident," he said.
— Erin Meyer contributed reporting.
