Illinois man pleads guilty in Niles Saylor’s Pizza crash

NILES — The Illinois man who fled police and crashed into Saylor’s Pizza in Niles pleaded guilty Wednesday to two felony charges in Berrien County Trial Court at the Niles courthouse. The crash ignited a fire and caused significant structural damage to the building.

Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Kate Arnold reported that Jaquan Deon Chestnut, 21, of Chicago Heights, Ill., pleaded guilty to third degree fleeing and eluding police and resisting and obstructing police during a pre-exam conference Wednesday morning.

Chestnut had been arraigned on those charges as well as having no operator’s license last week. If he had not pleaded to charges Wednesday, he would have faced a preliminary hearing on the charges next week and a trial at a later date. The no operator’s license charge was dismissed.

Arnold said Chestnut remains in jail in lieu of $20,000 cash or surety bond. He has agreed to pay restitution to Saylor’s in an amount yet to be determined. His sentencing date is set for Dec. 30.

Chestnut was arrested last week for the incident occurring Sept. 24.

The incident began in Bertrand Township when a Berrien County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on patrol on US-12 and observed a vehicle driving at an excessive speed. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the suspect vehicle then fled from the attempted traffic stop and the deputy gave chase engaging in a brief vehicular pursuit.

The pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle lost control attempting to negotiate a curve and crashed into a commercial building in the 300 block of Lincoln Ave. in the City of Niles. The suspect was the sole occupant of the vehicle and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was taken into custody without incident at the scene of the crash.

Police initially reported that the vehicle he was driving was stolen but proved to not be the case. The vehicle is however connected to an unrelated crime in Evergreen Park, Ill.

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