Illinois man faces seven felonies for driving through Beloit parade route

curtis-metz-mug-shot

The Illinois man who drove through the Beloit holiday lighted parade last week faces seven felony charges in Rock County Court.

38-year-old Curtis Metz of Orangeville, Illinois is charged with fifth offense operating while intoxicated attempting to flee an officer and five separate charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety.

The criminal complaint says police pulled Metz over before he entered the celebration, but he turned his vehicle back on and led police on a pursuit through the parade route.

Police said Metz almost struck one of their officers on foot and came within inches of striking a number of young children.

Officers successfully deployed stop sticks, but Metz kept driving on metal rims after the tires came off.

He eventually drove into a treeline off of Prairie Road in South Beloit, where he was taken into custody.

Metz was brought to the Winnebago County Jail, but prosecutors are looking to extradite him to Rock County.