By Kim Janssen
Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — A drunk, unarmed driver who tried to run over a cop and then pointed his arm at two officers as if it were a weapon, was shot by police on the South Side, prosecutors say.
Ronald Pitts, 23, of the 8100 block of South Harvard, appeared in court Sunday on crutches, with his left leg in a cast. He was drinking a bottle of Jose Cuervo tequila in his 1995 Cadillac at a gas station in the 8200 block of South Stewart when police spotted him Friday afternoon, according to police. Believing — incorrectly — that Pitts was wanted on a warrant, they ordered him and his passengers from the vehicle, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Sherri Bennet said. The officers saw a shiny object they believed was a handgun in the car, Bennet said.
But Pitts slammed the Cadillac in reverse and drove at one cop, before speeding through two red lights and crashing into a tree, it’s alleged. Police shot him in the ankle after he allegedly pointed an arm at them as he tried to flee on foot, Bennet said. No gun was recovered.
Pitts was ordered held on bail of $250,000 Sunday. Charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, possession of cannabis, drinking alcohol on the public way and aggravated fleeing and eluding, he sobbed “How these people trying to do me?” as he was led back to the court lockup. “I didn’t do none of that s— they just said,” he added.
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