MENDOTA – A Sterling man was arrested and charged with numerous offenses after leading police officers on a chase through Mendota on Aug. 27.

Joshua N. Hamrick, 38, was charged with driving while revoked, fleeing and eluding police, disobeying stop signs, improper lane usage, reckless driving, improper use of fraudulent registration and operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance. He was also wanted on a Lee County warrant for failure to appear on a contempt of court charge and on a Whiteside County warrant for failure to appear. Additionally, Hamrick was cited for being a fugitive from justice after it was learned he was wanted on a Washington County, Oregon nationwide arrest warrant for the offense of failure to appear on heroin distribution charges.

Mendota police officers initially conducted a traffic stop on a black Porsche Cayenne for going the wrong way down a one-way street in the 600 block of Seventh Avenue at 3:53 p.m. The vehicle came to a stop near the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street. As the vehicle came to a stop, a passenger exited the vehicle and the driver then sped away at a high rate of speed. Mendota police officers pursued the vehicle through several residential and business districts, but due to the suspect’s extremely high rate of speed, Mendota officers maintained a safe distance and maintained visual contact.

The pursuit ultimately travelled south of Mendota on Illinois Rt. 251 at which time the driver drove the vehicle off the road and through the front yard of a residence located at 4131 Illinois Rt. 251, drove between two homes and into the back yard of 4127 Illinois Rt. 251. The driver then fled the vehicle and was captured by Mendota police shortly thereafter.

The Mendota Police Department is furthermore working with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) in identifying the vehicle’s origin and True Vehicle Identification Number. Additional charges pertaining to auto theft and possession of a stolen motor vehicle are pending.

Hamrick was in the custody of the Mendota Police Department pending transfer to the LaSalle County Jail for arraignment. Bond on the Oregon state arrest warrant was set at $580,000/10% to apply.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.