BLOTTER: Online Date Ended with Calling Cops to Report a Stolen Car

An Oak Lawn woman was charged with a felony after a brief chase with police in a car reported stolen by her date, police said.

Stephanie B. Hale, 33, of the 9700 block of South Karlov Avenue, was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude police, criminal trespass to a vehicle and driving with a revoked license on July 28, Oak Lawn police said.

An officer on patrol spotted a Ford Fusion at about 11:58 p.m. cross the double yellow road lines near the 5600 block of West 95th Street, according to a report. When police stopped the car, an officer noticed that the driver hadn't put the Fusion into park. As he walked close to the car, the car took off down 95th Street. 

Police followed the car, which hit a stop sign and a no-left turn sign during the chase, the report states. The officer backed off after a short while due to the reckless way the Fusion was driving. A short later, the Fusion spun out in the 9200 block of Ridgeland Avenue. It was leaking fluids and has extensive damage.

Hale threw her hands into the air and told officers that she tried to get away because she doesn't have a license, police said. She refused to answer questions about whether she had been drinking and was arrested.

Earlier that night, police took a report about a Fusion reported stolen from a bar in the 5300 block of West 95th Street, the report states. Hale told police while in custody that the owner of the car is the friend of a man she dated four years ago. She and the co-owner became reacquainted through a dating website and met at the bar. She said that the car owner "definitely" allowed her to use the Fusion.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office approved charges and Hale was booked. She was given a court of July 29.

Police report information is provided by the Oak Lawn Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to contact the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.