In rural Kewanee, an 18-year-old driver is facing multiple charges after attempting to flee by driving through a field from a Henry County deputy during a traffic stop. The incident unfolded on the afternoon of February 4, 2025, when the deputy initiated the stop for excessive speed and a defective exhaust. Rather than complying, the suspect accelerated, leading officers on a chase through a farm field before eventually stopping near 2720 East and 1050 North. Mitchal B. Thorp, of Kewanee, the lone occupant of the vehicle, was taken into custody without further incident. Charges against him include speeding, fleeing law enforcement, improper lane usage, and multiple vehicle violations. Thorp is set to appear in court on March 10th, 2025. Authorities remind the public that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Mitchal B. Thorp is charged with Speeding, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, Improper Lane Usage, No Front License Plate, Defective Windshield, and Defective Exhaust. Thorp is scheduled to appear in court on March 10, 2025, in Cambridge.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.