Moments after police said they lost sight of a fleeing vehicle, a witness reported the suspect crashed and the car was on fire.
It started just after 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, 2013 when police say they were called to investigate a theft in progress at Midwest Underground, Inc. at 3150 Fifth Avenue in East Moline.
The suspect reportedly fled in a silver vehicle. Police said a vehicle matching the description of the suspect car fled when spotted by officers at Morton Drive and 13th Street.
Just after police lost sight of the suspect vehicle, a witness reported the suspect was westbound on 12th Avenue. Moments later, the witness reported the suspect car had crashed and caught fire in the 700 block of 12th Avenue.
Police found the alleged driver of the crashed car, 20-year-old Kwanzaa Austin, nearby.
Austin was held in the Rock Island County Jail. Police said they planned to charge him with felony theft and aggravated fleeing and eluding.
