Driver led 100 mph chase over marijuana, Portage police say

PORTAGE — A 23-year-old Chicago man, accused of leading police on a vehicle chase reaching a speed of 100 mph, was reportedly concerned because he had marijuana in his possession, according to the incident report.

A Portage police officer said he was patrolling a local stretch of U.S. 20 around 11:12 a.m. Saturday when he spotted a westbound vehicle travelling 65 mph in a 45-mph zone.

When he turned to follow, the vehicle reportedly accelerated to 100 mph and ran a red light at County Line Road as the driver entered Gary, police said.

At the time of his overdose, he was babysitting four children ranging in age from 10 to 5, police said.

The driver, later identified as Kyhale Ervin, continued ignoring red lights and nearly caused collisions with other vehicles, police said. The Portage officer eventually lost sight of the vehicle, but Gary police located the vehicle and took Ervin into custody.

A friend of the accused reportedly told police Ervin told her he had marijuana, which confused her as to why he would run from police “for such a simple thing,” according to the report.