Harrisburg Man Arrested After Crashing Stolen Vehicle and Fleeing Scene With Two Juveniles, Police Say
HARRISBURG, ILLINOIS — A Harrisburg man is facing a long list of charges after police say he crashed a stolen vehicle into two unattended cars and fled the scene with two juveniles on Friday afternoon. Officers first spotted the stolen vehicle around 4:30 p.m. on Locust Street, according to the Harrisburg Police Department.
When officers attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle sped off. Moments later, it crashed, and three individuals — one adult male and two juvenile females — ran from the scene.
Police, With Help From Bystanders, Detained All Three Suspects
Law enforcement quickly apprehended all three suspects with assistance from nearby bystanders. The adult male was identified as 33-year-old Jerry Zappa of Harrisburg. He was taken to the George F. Henley Detention Center.
The juvenile suspects were released according to procedures outlined in the Illinois Juvenile Court Act, police said.
Zappa Faces Multiple Felony and Misdemeanor Charges
Authorities say Zappa is facing several charges, including:
- Unlawful possession of a converted motor vehicle
- Driving while license revoked
- Reckless driving
- Unlawful restraint
- Unlawful possession of methamphetamine
- Aggravated fleeing and eluding
- Endangering the life or health of a child
Police also said Zappa is currently a suspect in two additional vehicle theft investigations.
Investigation Into Related Vehicle Thefts Continues
The Harrisburg Police Department confirmed that detectives are continuing to examine Zappa’s possible involvement in other recent vehicle thefts in the area. No further details have been released at this time.
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