19-Year-Old From Illinois Sends Dubuque Police on High-Speed Chase

Dubuque Officers patrolling early Monday morning got more than they bargained for when they were sent on a high-speed chase. It all started when a 19-year-old Illinois man was found driving the wrong way on a city street.

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According to court documents, officers with the Dubuque Police Department responded at about 5:57 AM to the area of East Ninth and Elm streets after receiving a report of a vehicle traveling the wrong way on Central Avenue. When officers located the vehicle, they attempted to conduct a traffic stop near East 11th Street and Elm Street. However, the driver did not stop and instead continued driving, initiating a pursuit through several downtown streets.

Police said the vehicle turned onto East 16th Street, then onto Washington Street and Jackson Street as officers attempted to catch up. During the pursuit, the driver allegedly ran multiple stop signs and traffic lights. The pursuing officer estimated the vehicle reached speeds of approximately 60 miles per hour while traveling through the downtown area.

Due to safety concerns, officers eventually stopped pursuing. Shortly afterward, police located the vehicle near East Fifth and Bell streets. Authorities said the driver again fled from officers before abandoning the vehicle in an alley between the 1900 blocks of Washington and Elm streets.

Police said the driver and another occupant ran from the vehicle on foot. Officers later found both individuals hiding inside a bedroom closet in an apartment in the 300 block of East 19th Street.

The driver, identified as 19-year-old Omar McGhee of Champaign, Illinois, told officers he had been driving the vehicle. He was taken into custody at around 6:20 AM.

McGhee was charged with eluding police and also received multiple traffic citations related to the incident. No information has been released about the other occupant found in the apartment / vehicle.