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NILES — The driver who crashed a vehicle into the Niles Saylor’s Pizza Port Tuesday morning has been arraigned on charges resulting from the crash, according to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office.

Jaquan Deon Chestnut,  a 21-year-old man from Chicago Heights, IL ,was arraigned in Berrien County’s 5th district court on charges of fleeing and eluding in the 3rd degree, resisting and obstructing a police officer, and driving without a valid operator’s license. He is currently being held in the Berrien County Jail on $20,000 bond.

At approximately 4:49 a.m. Tuesday, a Berrien County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on patrol in Bertrand Township, Berrien County along US-12 when he observed a vehicle driving at an excessive speed. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the dark colored SUV for the aforementioned traffic violation. The suspect vehicle then fled from the attempted traffic stop and the deputy gave chase engaging in a brief vehicular pursuit. 

The pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle lost control attempting to negotiate a curve and crashed into a commercial building in the 300 block of Lincoln Ave. in the City of Niles. Chestnut was the sole occupant of the vehicle he was driving and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken into custody without incident at the scene of the crash.

The suspect vehicle came to rest inside the building which then ignited a structure fire causing extensive damage to the building and the vehicle. 

The suspect vehicle in this incident was later determined not to be stolen. However, it was a vehicle of interest in an unrelated crime in Evergreen Park, IL. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating with the Evergreen Park Police Department in the furtherance of their investigation.

Involved agencies include Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Patrol, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Niles Township Patrol, Niles Police Department, Niles Fire Department, SMCAS Ambulance, Niles Township Fire Department, Buchanan City Fire Department, Howard Township Fire Department, Berrien County Public Safety Dispatch Center, Millin Towing.

Leaderpub.com will be updated when more information is available.