Savanna officers justified in shooting suspect who reversed and crashed into officers during pursuit

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Carroll County, IL - Four law enforcement officers who discharged their firearms during a June 26, 2025, incident in Savanna were justified in using force, according to a memorandum issued Thursday by the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The incident followed a police chase that began during the night of June 25 in Freeport, when officers attempted a traffic stop on a suspected stolen vehicle. The driver fled, nearly striking a squad car and another vehicle. Officers lost sight of the vehicle and ended the pursuit.

Later that night, a Jo Daviess County sheriff’s deputy briefly pursued the same vehicle near Hanover but terminated the chase.

Early the next morning, the suspect was located near Savanna. During the pursuit, the suspect’s vehicle struck a squad car. Police reported gunfire shortly before the vehicle crashed at the intersection of Chicago Street and Park Street in Savanna, hitting a Mount Carroll Police Department squad car and damaging the front porch of a house. Officers then encountered the suspect and fired additional shots.

Multiple officers were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. No officers were shot.

The Illinois State Police conducted an independent investigation. Carroll County State’s Attorney Aaron C. Kaney reviewed the ISP report, body camera footage, squad car videos, and applicable Illinois statutes.

“It is my opinion that the officers’ use of force was justified as they acted reasonably and lawfully in discharging their weapons as they believed such force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or others,” Kaney wrote. “Therefore, no criminal charges are warranted against the officers.”

Mark Feltmeyer has been charged with one Class 2 felony count of possessing a stolen vehicle; four Class 3 felony counts of criminal damage to government property; and three Class 4 felony counts, including one for aggravated fleeing and two for aggravated assault of a peace officer.

At a July 25 status hearing, a judge granted a public defender’s motion for a mental fitness evaluation of Feltmeyer. He remains in custody in Stephenson County, with a hearing on the results of the evaluation scheduled for Sept. 5.