Late night car chase from Rockton to South Beloit and back

Multiple police officers from four different agencies attempted to stop a black sedan around 11 p.m. on Sunday night, May 11, 2025, as it sped across city limits and through the Wingate neighborhood. In pursuit: squad cars from Winnebago County, Village of Rockton, Village of Roscoe, and City of South Beloit. The driver finally stopped across Rockton Road from Auto Zone. He was taken to Winnebago County Jail.

According to Rockton Police Chief Matt Hollinger, a Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputy first tried to stop the car on Illinois Route 2 near Wagon Wheel Road. But the driver, 19 year old Deisom J. Wren of Rockford, ignored the officer and headed north, going even faster, with three passengers. The deputy last saw them near IL Route 2 and Rockton Road.  Not long after, Rockton and South Beloit officers saw a vehicle with the same description near Rockton Road and Cassidy Drive, entering South Beloit.  Chief Matt Hollinger says, "South Beloit officers attempted to stop the vehicle which fled into the Wingate Subdivision in Rockton." With sirens sounding, South Beloit Police and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police pursued the vehicle, using “Stop Sticks,” or pursuit termination devices, to deflate its tires. Residents estimated eight squad cars were involved and said, "They went by my house 3 times," down Bayfield "three or four times," and down Wynstone Way twice.

During the chase, Wren's car struck two mailboxes in the 400 block of Bayfield and 2300 block of Winfield Ct.  Crossing Rockton Road, Wren came to a stop at Glengary Drive, near the entrance to the subdivision. No injuries were reported. Without further incident, Rockton and Roscoe Police officers helped detain the occupants of the vehicle. All four of them were from Rockford, some of them possibly female minors. Chief Matt Hollinger says his officers "investigated the damage to the mailboxes and cited the driver." Wren's charge of fleeing the police was aggravated since he drove more than 21 mph over the speed limit to do it, had ignored two or more traffic control devices, and had caused damage greater than $300 in the process. He was also carrying at least one open container of alcohol in the car.

Continuing the investigation, South Beloit Police arrested Deisom Wren on charges of Aggravated Fleeing to Elude (Class 4 Felony), Reckless Driving (Class A Misdemeanor), Speeding 35 + MPH over (Class A Misdemeanor), and Illegal Transportation of Alcohol (Petty Offense). Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department also conducted an investigation. The three passengers were released.

Wren was booked into Winnebago County Jail at 3:49 a.m. represented by private attorney Paul Vella. State's Attorney Nathaniel Huss asked Judge Heidi E. Agustsson to deny the request for pre-trial release but it was denied. Wren was released the next evening, at 9:08 p.m. One of the conditions of his release was "no contact."

At his arraignment and indictment on June 26, 2025 at 2 p.m. with Judge Philip Nicolosi, he will face additional charges of Speeding in Construction Zone - Workers Not Present (Petty Offense), Causing a Child to be Endangered (Class A Misdemeanor), and Unlawful Possession of Cannabis by Driver (Class A Misdemeanor). On June 4, he is to be arraigned for the major traffic offense of Leaving the Scene.

Previously, Wren was charged in May and then again in September 2024 for driving more than 20 mph over the speed limit. Before that, in October 2024, through a negotiated plea arranged by Paul Vella, he was sentenced to two years of probation for Battery Causing Bodily Harm in a public incident in April.