Man cites mental issues in high-speed chase through Oregon

OREGON – An Ogle County judge declined to reduce the $250,000 bond set for the 40-year-old Peoria man who led Ogle County Sheriff's Police on a high-speed chase 2 weeks ago.

Daniel H. Swisher's attorney, Paul Whitcombe of Dixon, had asked for the bond to be reduced to $100,000.

"I know very little about Mr. Swisher," Judge Robert Hanson said at Tuesday's hearing. "And now I'm finding out today that he has another fleeing to elude charge in Peoria County." He asked Ogle County Probation Department to do a background check on Swisher in time for a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

If he makes bond, Swisher must live with his parents in Peoria, stay on his medications, see his doctor regularly, and not drive a vehicle. Swisher testified, however, that he could not raise the $25,000 necessary because his assets are tied up in divorce proceedings.

Swisher was charged May 13 with four counts of aggravated fleeing to elude and two counts of resisting a peace officer, all felonies that carry 1 to 3 years in prison; and possession of cannabis, a misdemeanor.

He has no previous felony convictions and no history of violent crimes, Whitcombe said.

Swisher, a civil engineer who works for the Illinois Department of Transportation, testified that he has bipolar disorder and has had manic depressive episodes since 1998. He was not taking his medication when he fled from Ogle County deputies on May 6, he said.

He was hospitalized until Tuesday afternoon, when he was taken to Ogle County Jail.

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 Porsche around 2:10 p.m. When they tried to approach him, he drove north on state Route 2 toward Oregon, got on state Route 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.

Earlier that day, Swisher also was involved in a chase with Jo Daviess County Sheriff's deputies, the department said.