On Friday afternoon (4/7/2023), sheriff’s deputies attempted to detain 30-year-old Bret A. Johnson, of St Anne, for several outstanding warrants (9 Kankakee County warrants and 1 in Iroquois County).  Deputies located Johnson at a gas station in Chebanse.  Upon attempting to stop Johnson, he backed into an officer’s vehicle and fled, leading deputies on a high-speed pursuit.  Johnson was eventually stopped after his vehicle struck another sheriff’s deputy, causing air-bag deployment in the officer’s vehicle.  After a subsequent foot pursuit in an adjacent farm field, Johnson attempted to hijack another officer’s vehicle.  Sheriff’s deputies were able to successfully take Johnson into custody after a brief struggle. 

“This individual has been wreaking havoc throughout multiple Kankakee County communities as of late,” said Sheriff Mike Downey.  “I am thankful that our officers were able to get him into custody without anyone getting severely injured, or killed.”

An active investigation is on-going in the Village of Bradley from earlier that afternoon involving Johnson.  Johnson has been charged with several charges stemming from that investigation, as well. Furthermore, Johnson will have additional charges in regards to an on-going investigation on behalf of the Kankakee Police Department.                                    

As of right now, Johnson remains incarcerated in the Jerome Combs Detention Center on a $200,000 bond, which was reduced from what was initially set at $1 million on Saturday.  He has been booked on the following charges:

          * Vehicular Hijacking
          * Driving Under the Influence of Drug
          * Leaving the Scene (2 Counts)
          * Reckless Driving
          * Felony Retail Theft (5 Counts)
          * Leaving the Scene of an Accident
          * Aggravated Battery/Peace Officer (2 Counts)
          * Speeding 35+ MPH Over Limit
          * Obstructing/PC Off/Corrections Emp/FRFTR
          * 9 Kankakee County Warrants
          * 1 Iroquois County Warrant