CHICAGO, Ill. — A South Side man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to run over a Chicago Police officer with his Jaguar in the popular Weed Street District early Monday morning.
The 51-year-old officer, who was conducting a roadside seat belt safety check at 2 a.m., had to hold onto the hood of Rodney Steele's luxury British car to keep from being hit, Assistant State's Attorney Christopher Costello said Tuesday.
After the first officer fell off the car, another officer shot at Steele's black four-door, striking the vehicle's driver's side and puncturing his keys, but Steele kept driving at a high rate of speed from the corner of Kingsbury, Weed and Sheffield, Costello said.
Steele, 32, was arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase from the Kennedy Expy. to the South Side, where he was arrested in an alley in the 3000 block of South Princeton.
Steele swung his elbows and legs at the responding officers and was Tasered, according to a police report.
Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered Steele held without bail Tuesday on attempted murder, aggravated battery, resisting arrest and eluding charges.
Steele, who appeared in court Tuesday with red bruises on his face and wearing a T-shirt with the words "Death Dance" written on the back, was also issued various traffic citations, including disregarding a stoplight and driving on a suspended license.
Steele, a father of two, also faces charges from a January incident in which he was arrested in the parking lot of Adrianna's nightclub in Markham, allegedly with a loaded .38 caliber handgun, according to court records. Steel allegedly offered officers $25,000 to release him.
He also has multiple convictions for driving without a license.