ILLINOIS — A 48-year-old Joliet man has been charged in connection with a February crash that injured a Will County sheriff’s deputy during a late-night traffic stop in Plainfield Township.
The Will County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Sontae Brooks now faces multiple charges, including DUI and a felony count of unlawful operation of a vehicle when approaching an emergency vehicle. The charges follow an in-depth investigation that lasted several months.
Crash Occurred During Routine Traffic Stop
According to the sheriff’s office, the crash occurred around 9:45 p.m. on February 27. A deputy had pulled over a driver on Caton Farm Road near Enid Street and had emergency lights activated when the incident occurred.
While the deputy was outside the patrol car or nearby, a white Lexus slammed into the rear of the squad vehicle.
“The force of the impact pushed the patrol vehicle across all lanes of traffic before coming to rest in the grass on the south side of Caton Farm Road,” said Kevin Hedemark, spokesperson for the Will County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Suffers Head Injury
Both the deputy and the driver of the Lexus were taken to a nearby hospital. Authorities say the deputy suffered a head injury, though the extent of the trauma has not been publicly disclosed.
Brooks, identified as the Lexus driver, was also treated at the hospital.
Investigation Took Months Before Charges Filed
The incident sparked an internal investigation by the sheriff’s department, which included:
-
Witness interviews
-
Toxicology testing
-
Data analysis from the patrol vehicle and Lexus involved
The case was reviewed by Will County prosecutors, and charges were officially filed on Friday, more than four months after the crash.
As of Monday, Brooks is not in custody, and court proceedings are pending.
Have you witnessed reckless or impaired driving in your area? Tell us how your neighborhood is working to keep roads safer at chicagosuburbanfamily.com. Your stories matter.
