KC man charged with four felonies in rush-hour police chase that injured cop

A man was charged Tuesday with four felonies after police say he led officers on a dangerous chase through rush-hour traffic in Kansas City.

Ryan M. Lilly, 32, faces third-degree assault, tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting a lawful stop and property damage. The chase lasted for about 45 minutes on Monday. An officer said Lilly deliberately rammed his vehicle, causing minor injuries to the officer.

Lilly drove into oncoming traffic, struck a minivan on I-35 and drove at a high rate of speed in reverse before crashing into a tree, police said.

The Dodge Ram that Lilly was allegedly driving was stolen from the area of Butler Way and State Line Road, according to charging documents. Lilly told police he'd stolen a motorcycle in the back of the truck as well.

Lilly said he did not want to be caught due to outstanding felony warrants, and that he'd eluded officers near Independence Avenue earlier in the day, according to the documents.

The chase began near 31st and York streets in Kansas City and crossed into Kansas City, Kan. Roeland Park police tracked Lilly's movements by helicopter.

Lilly eventually surrendered at Wornall Road and I-435. At one point during the chase, the man stopped driving and a woman got out. Lilly told police his girlfriend had "nothing to do with this," according to the documents.

Lilly pleaded guilty to two counts of tampering with a vehicle and one count of resisting arrest in 2015. He was sentenced to two years.

In August 2016 he was charged with two counts of tampering with a motor vehicle and two counts of resisting arrest, according to court records.

This story was originally published April 10, 2018 at 7:38 PM with the headline "KC man charged with four felonies in rush-hour police chase that injured cop."