A Texas man has pleaded guilty to three counts against him for an April 2022 incident in which he fled from Kewanee Police in a stolen vehicle and crashed in Annawan. Tateeon Brown, 27, of Palestine, Texas, was the driver of a stolen vehicle that fled from Kewanee Police on September 7, 2022, and crashed in Annawan after he lost control of the vehicle at the intersection of Highway 78 and U.S. Highway 6. Brown pleaded guilty to Residential Burglary, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Aggravated Fleeing in an open plea on April 2, 2024. The Residential Burglary count was amended from a Class 1 Felony to a Class 2 Felony, which means the charge is now eligible for probation. A Sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 17, 2024, at 3:30 PM. Brown has been in custody of the Henry County Jail since he was arrested in October 2023 on the warrant that was issued in May 2022 after Brown failed to show up for his first appearance on May 16, 2022. All remaining counts are dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Tateeon Brown was transported by ambulance to an area hospital and taken by Life Flight to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria following the crash. The owner of the vehicle was at a friend’s home when the vehicle was stolen. He told the police that he had left the keys inside the unlocked vehicle and that there was a firearm inside the vehicle.
Kewanee Police observed the vehicle in the 400 block of South Main Street and attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled from Kewanee Police at a high rate of speed. The pursuing officers lost sight of the vehicle south of Annawan. An Annawan Police Officer was sitting in a private parking lot and witnessed the vehicle lose control and crash. The Annawan Police Officer informed dispatch that the fleeing vehicle had crashed and requested emergency services. Kewanee Police officers turned around and proceeded to Annawan to arrest the driver of the vehicle. During the investigation, Kewanee Police discovered additional stolen property, including firearms, from a residential burglary, reported about an hour prior to the stolen vehicle report.
Tateeon Brown was originally charged with Residential Burglary (Class 1 Felony), Theft under $500 (Class A Misdemeanor), Possession of a Stolen Vehicle (Class 2 Felony), Aggravated Fleeing/21+ MPH Over (Class 4 Felony), Illegal Possession of Ammunition (Class A Misdemeanor), Unlicensed Driver (Class P Other), and Speeding 35+ MPH Over Speed Limit (Class A Misdemeanor).
