Man who used van to strike CPD officer denied bail

A south suburban man charged with attempted murder allegedly revved the engine of a stolen van before plowing into a Chicago Police officer in West Englewood, authorities said Saturday.

Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. called the driver, 19-year-old Randy Kendricks, “dangerous” before denying him bond Saturday.

It happened Thursday, New Year’s Day, about 2:30 p.m. in the 6000 block of South Wolcott, police said. The policeman, a 26-year-old Englewood District officer, was standing when the driver rammed the van into a squad car.

Prosecutors said Kendricks looked at the officer and the squad car before “revving the engine” and striking the officer and the car.

The officer, who was in uniform, tried to get out of the way but was hit. He suffered a concussion and an injury to his ankle, prosecutors said. He was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park with injuries that weren’t thought to be life-threatening.

According to the police report, the van was stolen from a driveway in the 5900 block of South Honore and belonged to a Mississippi man. The owner of the vehicle was warming it up when he saw two men get inside and drive away. He then flagged down officers who spotted the van in the 6000 block of South Wolcott, the report said.

Following the attack, both occupants exited the van and ran, police said. Kendricks was arrested after a short foot chase but detectives are still looking for the other person, who is named in the police report.

Kendricks has a 2013 aggravated unlawful use of a weapon conviction and was sentenced to one year in prison, according to court records.

Kendricks, of the 15600 block of South Vine in Harvey, faces felony counts of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a stolen vehicle, police said.

He also faces a misdemeanor charge of obstructing identification and a citation for damage to public property.