Kankakee County Sheriff’s Deputy suffers minor injuries during traffic stop

A Kankakee County Sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries during a Tuesday traffic stop in Bourbonnais.

According to the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Department, the deputy had pulled over 21-year-old Erik Sostenes, of Kankakee, in the 300 block of Main Street NW about 9 a.m., for an alleged vehicle displaying suspended registration.

The deputy was speaking with Sostenes, and without warning, Sostenes got back into his vehicle, attempting to flee, sheriff’s deputies said.

A physical struggle occurred as the deputy attempted to prevent Sostenes from leaving.

Sostenes accelerated while the deputy was partially inside the vehicle, dragging the deputy several feet along the pavement before the deputy was thrown to the ground. Sostenes then fled at a high rate of speed, sheriff’s deputies said.

Due to the reckless nature of the pursuit, including Sostenes entering a congested, one-lane construction zone on Interstate 57, the pursuit was halted out of concern for public safety, sheriff’s deputies said.

Sostenes was arrested a few hours later, sheriff’s deputies said.

The deputy was not hospitalized.

Preliminary charges against Sostenes include: aggravated battery to a police officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding, resisting a peace officer and reckless driving, sheriff’s deputies said.

“The Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office will never tolerate acts of violence against our deputies for simply doing their jobs – enforcing the laws on the books,” Sheriff Mike Downey said.

“Unfortunately, recent legislation such as the SAFE-T Act has swung the pendulum too far, creating an environment where violent offenders are emboldened, and law enforcement officers are placed at even greater risk,” Downey said.