A 20-year-old South Holland man is accused of staging a bizarre “reverse pursuit,” chasing a marked Chicago police car near the UIC campus before losing control while spinning a donut and crushing a bystander’s leg.
Prosecutors said Michael Davis was behind the wheel of his 2007 Corvette just before 1 a.m. on August 31 when he tailed a marked CPD car with its lights flashing as it headed north in the 1300 block of South Halsted. Instead of backing off, Davis revved his engine, drifted side to side, and spun donuts as he followed the squad, prosecutors claim.
The stunt turned catastrophic for three friends who were standing outside Bar Louie, 1325 Halsted.
While spinning a donut, Davis’ Corvette allegedly slammed into several parked vehicles, pinning a 21-year-old Frankfort man who was standing between two cars. Prosecutors said the victim’s leg was crushed between vehicles and he was dragged several feet before collapsing in the street. His kneecap “is gone,” and doctors placed him in a medically induced coma to stabilize his blood pressure while trying to save the leg from amputation, according to a detention filing.
Rather than help, Davis allegedly jumped out, tore off the Corvette’s rear license plate, and ran. The victim’s two friends chased him briefly but returned to aid the fallen man. Police identified Davis as the Corvette’s owner by running its unique vehicle identification number and a license plate that was lying on the rear window shelf.
Investigators arranged for Davis to turn himself in.
Judge Deidre Dyer ordered Davis detained on charges of aggravated reckless driving causing bodily harm, failure to report an accident with injury, and failure to render aid.
