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New license plate reader leads police to stolen car, arrest

Staff Report

ROCKFORD – New technology the city purchased to help Rockford Police officers read thousands of license plates was responsible for locating a stolen car and apprehending the suspect, police said Wednesday.

Shortly before 8:30 p.m.,  Tuesday, Oct. 2, a Rockford officer received an alert from his squad vehicle’s automated license plate reader on a stolen car at East State Street and Jefferson Street. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, and the suspect vehicle fled.

The suspect eventually crashed and fled the vehicle near the area of South Main and Morgan streets.

After a brief foot chase and with assistance from a K9, the suspect was taken into custody. It was later learned the stolen vehicle was taken during a residential burglary, along with several firearms that have not yet been recovered.

Police say the driver of the stolen car is 19-year-old Malik Jordan, of Rockford. He’s charged with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated fleeing to elude and resisting arrest.

“We will continue to utilize technology to increase our efficiency’s as well as our other
resources, including the K9, to continue our efforts to drive crime down in Rockford,” said
Chief Dan O’Shea.

The mobile automated license plate readers (LPR) use several cameras, mounted in various
locations on squad cars, to constantly read plates. An alert is then sent to the officer’s mobile
computer if the LPR detects a stolen vehicle or other vehicles that have been flagged for
investigative purposes. R.

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