Man convicted of trying to kill officer in Carpentersville

A man was convicted Thursday of trying to kill a police officer after a drug deal four years ago in northwest suburban Carpentersville.

Leamon R. Cavitt, Jr., 47, faces 20 to 80 years in prison for attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, attempted first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, aggravated battery to a peace officer, three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated fleeing and eluding, all felonies, according to a statement from the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.

On Jan. 17, 2012, Cavitt and his co-defendant, who was not named, went to a restaurant parking lot in the 1600 block of Ravine Lane in Carpentersville to buy a kilogram of cocaine in a deal previously arranged by the codefendant, prosecutors said.

His partner took the $30,000 Cavitt gave him for the deal and brought it to the two undercover police officers posing as sellers while Cavitt stayed in his car, prosecutors said. As his partner took the drugs, an unmarked police vehicle pulled behind Cavitt’s car.

Cavitt put his car in reverse and rammed into the police vehicle, hitting and injuring an officer who was getting out, prosecutors said. He then quickly drove forward, forcing another officer to jump out of the way to avoid being run over.

He then sped away, leading police on a high-speed chase over a curb and bushes and down an embankment, prosecutors said. Cavitt eventually surrendered in Itasca where officers shot and wounded him.

“Violence related to the illicit narcotics trade isn’t confined to large, urban areas. Even in Kane County police officers face grave risks when they try to interrupt the trade,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said. “Fortunately, the officers involved were not seriously hurt.”

Cavitt, of the 1600 block of North 36th Street in East St. Louis, is next scheduled to appear in court April 28 for sentencing. He remains in custody at the Kane County jail.