Injured Earlville officer is released from hospital

Earlville Police Officer Jesus Alonzo, who was injured in an on-duty traffic crash over the weekend, was released from OSF St. Anthony Hospital in Rockford.

The 11-year-veteran of the Earlville Police Department is at home and resting with his wife and children, said Police Chief Darin Crask.

Alonzo was seriously injured Saturday in a pursuit on U.S. 34 that at times reached more than 100 mph. The suspect, Jaquaya M. Roy, 23, of Bloomington, Indiana, fled westbound on U.S. 34. Alonzo was among the officers who pursued the fleeing suspect vehicle and crashed his squad near the Meriden Township building.

While initially taken to OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota, it was determined Alonzo had fractured his C6 and C7 vertebrae in his neck, suffered a concussion and other minor injuries as a result of the crash, Crask said.

Alonzo was then taken to OSF St. Anthony Hospital in Rockford in serious condition.

“I am happy to report that Officer Alonzo was not paralyzed as a result of the fractured vertebrae in his neck,” Crask said.

After spending two days at OSF St. Anthony, Alonzo was released to the follow up care of a neurosurgeon.

“Officer Alonzo has a very long road to recovery ahead of him and has the full support of the city of Earlville,” Crask said.

Alonzo was assisting a deputy from the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office on a traffic stop on U.S. 34 at South Ottawa Street. During the course of the traffic stop, a struggle began between one of the passengers of the suspect vehicle and officers, Crask said.

While the deputy was speaking with Roy, he smelled burnt cannabis and spotted several open containers of alcohol. Assistant La Salle County State’s Attorney Cara Luckey-Reynolds said in open court one of the passengers was a parolee named Kevin Chester who instructed Roy, “Go go go,” at which she drove away from the scene.

The police pursuit reached speeds of more than 100 mph, including in a residential area of Mendota where the posted limit is 45 mph.

The suspect, Roy, faces 1-3 years in prison if convicted of aggravated fleeing and eluding for her role in the police chase.