A 27-year-old man who evaded electronic monitoring earlier this year is facing charges for allegedly attempting to kill a Cook County Sheriff’s Police officer who tried to apprehend him on the South Side, according to prosecutors.
Antwan Ford, who had cut off his ankle monitor six months prior and disappeared from his Ford Heights residence, was located by a fugitive apprehension team on December 2. When officers found him near 74th Street and Colfax Avenue, Ford reportedly drove his black GMC Terrain directly at a task force officer, pinning the 51-year-old officer between the SUV and a building before driving away.
The injured officer was rushed to the University of Chicago Hospital with injuries to both legs.
Ford now faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery of a peace officer, and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury. He becomes the 22nd person accused of committing a violent crime while on felony pretrial release in Chicago this year. Judge John Hock ordered him to be detained on the new charges.
Records show that Ford was placed on electronic monitoring in September 2024 after being accused of possessing a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing, and related offenses. He allegedly removed the monitoring device and fled his home location on June 2. Despite authorities finding the discarded equipment, Ford failed to appear in court and remained at large until being apprehended this month.
This incident is part of a series of reports on individuals accused of committing violent acts while on pretrial release for felony charges. This series, initiated by CWBChicago in November 2019, aims to shed light on the impact of bond reform initiatives in Cook County. The actual number of violent crimes committed by individuals awaiting trial is likely higher than reported due to underreporting by law enforcement agencies.
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