NILES — A suspect in a homicide in Hickory Hills, Ill., who attempted to evade police Thursday morning in Niles has been identified as Ronald Smith, 41.

A Niles area resident, Smith was being held on multiple felony charges and a parole violation. Investigators from Hickory Hills were headed to Niles Thursday to question Smith about the homicide there.

Smith was apprehended after police officers from Michigan and Indiana cornered him in a tree above a shed near 13th Street and Bertrand Road. He fled to that area, Michigan State Police in Niles said, after ditching a car, which reportedly had been stolen, behind the motel.

Smith ingested narcotics prior to his apprehension, police said, and was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

A second man at the motel also was arrested on charges of possession of narcotics and counterfeit currency, police said. They said evidence in the room indicated the counterfeit money had been produced there.

The name of the second individual was withheld pending his arraignment in Berrien County Trial Court.

Police said Thursday's series of events began shortly after 8 a.m., when a Michigan state trooper attempted to stop an auto driven by Smith for a speeding violation on U.S. 12. Rather than stop, Smith accelerated, leading the trooper on a chase south on Michigan 51 until he abandoned the car near the motel and fled into a wooded area.

About 60 police officers then converged on the area, cordoning it off while a Niles city police tracking dog picked up Smith’s scent and helped track him to an area behind the Rural King store.

Police arrested Smith after he was discovered in the tree, about 30 feet off the ground.

Police said no shots were fired and no one was injured during the pursuit.

During the pursuit, a lockdown order was issued by Brandywine Public Schools to ensure the safety of students in school properties in the area of the chase.

Staff writer Lou Mumford:
lmumford@sbtinfo.com
(269) 687-7002