Peoria man sentenced for 2015 high speed chase

By Angel Sierra

Sauk Valley Media

asierra@saukvalley.com

A Peoria man was sentenced to a combination of probation, court supervision and community service after pleading guilty to some of the charges stemming from a May 6, 2015, high-speed chase that started at Castle Rock State Park.

Daniel H. Swisher, 41, pleaded guilty May 16 to one count of criminal damage to government-supported property and one count of fleeing to elude.

He will serve two, 2-year sentences concurrently: probation for using his 2015 Porsche to hit a marked squad car, and court supervision for the misdemeanor fleeing.

“The sentence was crafted to address the mental health issues which were brought up in open court ... last year, and [to] also protect public safety,” Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow said in an email. “The defendant had very little previous criminal history and was compliant with all pretrial requirements, including mental health treatment.”

Total fines and court costs were $4,863, all of which have already been paid, Morrow said Monday. Restitution was paid by Swisher’s vehicle insurance.

He also must serve 30 hours of community service, adhere to treatment recommendations, take prescribed medication, and maintain employment, in addition to the regular set of release conditions. He received credit for jail time served.

Six felonies and a misdemeanor were dropped in exchange for the guilty plea.

Swisher, who had been undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder for several years, originally pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of aggravated fleeing to elude and two counts of resisting a peace officer, all felonies; and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

According to the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department, the chase ensued after deputies doing a welfare check at the overlook at Castle Rock State Park found Swisher in a parked car around 2:10 p.m.

When they tried to approach him, he fled north on Ill. 2 toward Oregon, went east on Ill. 64 and made it to Kings, then turned around and returned to Oregon, where he eventually was stopped by police on the bridge over the Rock River.

At times, he reached 104 mph, and swerved toward oncoming traffic, police have said.