LEE COUNTY — On Monday June 12, at 11:46 p.m., a Lee County Sheriff Deputy attempted to stop a 2009 Infinity sedan for speeding 75 mph in a 55 mph zone on US Route 30 near Hoyle Road.  The driver increased speed and failed to yield to the emergency lights and sirens of the Deputy’s marked patrol SUV. The driver entered I-88 at US Route 30 and fled westbound. The driver exited I-88 then reentered traveling eastbound. The Infinity struck stop sticks deployed by Whiteside County Deputies and Rock Falls Officers. Lee County Deputies terminated the pursuit when they lost sight of the vehicle as the driver reached 140 mph. 

A short time later, Whiteside County Deputies located the vehicle abandoned on Moline Road, near US Route 30. The Infinity had a flat front driver side tire. The front passenger side was down to only the rim. Whiteside County Deputies located the registered owner, Garnie M. Head III of Clinton, Iowa walking west approximately 4/10ths of a mile from the abandoned vehicle. Garnie was taken into custody without incident.   

The Lee County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by Rock Falls Police Department, Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Police, District 1. No one was injured in the pursuit and no damage occurred except to Garnie’s vehicle.  

Garnie has been charged with: aggravated fleeing or attempt to elude a peace officer (Class 4 Felony), driving while license suspended, speeding, operating a vehicle without proof of insurance, a Lee County Arrest Warrant, a Whiteside County Arrest Warrant, and a DeKalb County Arrest Warrant

Garnie was last arrested by Lee County Sheriff’s Department in May of 2016 for aggravated fleeing or attempt to elude a peace officer (Class 4 Felony), domestic battery, driving while license suspended, numerous traffic violations, a Whiteside County Arrest Warrant, and a DeKalb County Arrest Warrant

The charges are merely an allegation and all parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty.