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Exotic dancer' leads police on chase through Pekin

shadowcat

Atlanta suburb

PEKIN IL.

Pekin police said they chased a Peoria woman who stole a taxi cab at the Mineral Springs Motel for 20 miles Sunday before she was forced to stop when officers bumped the back of the cab with a patrol car, causing it to spin.

Misty Light-Yow, 35, was arrested for driving under the influence, aggravated battery, resisting and obstructing police, aggravated fleeing and eluding, driving on a suspended license, criminal damage to property, possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, motor vehicle theft and 11 traffic violations.

Pekin police Sgt. Courtney Hutchinson said police were notified at 3:07 a.m. Sunday by a Yellow Checker cab driver that an "extremely intoxicated" woman who was an "exotic dancer" had taken his cab. A patrol officer spotted the vehicle traveling the wrong way in the 1000 block of Court Street.

The officer tried to stop the cab, but it continued down Court Street at about 40 mph before turning into the Pekin Community Bank parking lot in the 600 block of Court and allegedly hit a barrier at the corner of the building.

The cab pulled back onto Court Street and turned into the parking lot of Court Place Apartments in the 200 block of Court Street and went out the exit on South Second Street. Hutchinson said Light-Yow increased her speed to 60 mph as she continued south on Illinois Route 29. There was no traffic on the road, so officers continued the pursuit, said Hutchinson.

Officers deployed spike strips on Route 29 north of Main Street in South Pekin, puncturing the front right tire. While that forced the vehicle to slow down, it continued south. Officers again deployed spike sticks at Route 29's intersection with Illinois Route 122. The left tire blew, but she continued driving on flat tires, said Hutchinson.

Near County Road 3800 East, a police car hit the back corner of the cab, causing it to spin and stop.

As officers tried to pull Light-Yow from the vehicle, she continued pushing the gas pedal, causing the tires to spin. She was warned that if she did not stop resisting, officers would use a Taser gun. She did not stop, and officers tazed her. Hutchinson said it fazed her for a few moments, but she was wearing a thick coat and it didn't work for long.

Delavan police were at the scene to assist.

Light-Yow, who was uninjured, was taken to Pekin Hospital. She allegedly kicked one officer and spit on another. She refused all sobriety tests. Officers said they found drug paraphernalia and marijuana when they searched her. Hutchinson said there were no injuries associated with the chase, so hospital staff could not take fluid samples for blood alcohol analysis when she refused.

Hutchinson said she would not tell police why she was at the hotel or why she took the cab. She remains in the Tazewell County Justice Center awaiting a bond hearing Monday.