(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. – A 35-year-old Illinois man with a lengthy criminal history is being held on $75,000 cash bail after allegedly leading Kenosha County deputies on a high-speed pursuit last week with cocaine and marijuana scattered throughout his vehicle.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
Terrance M. Kampas of Lake in the Hills, Illinois, was charged Tuesday with six felony counts, including three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, fleeing an officer, and drug possession, all as a repeat offender. He appeared in intake court alongside co-defendants Norman Brown Jr., 37, and Cortez V. Simpson, 33, who were each given $5,000 cash bail for related drug charges.
The chase occurred June 5 when a Kenosha County deputy attempted to stop a black Mazda with no rear lights traveling north on I-94 near Somers. The driver, later identified as Kampas, appeared to comply before making a sudden U-turn and accelerating in the wrong direction at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
Deputies pursued the car through construction zones, heavy dust clouds, and residential areas. At one point, officials say Kampas swerved directly toward Sergeant Terry Tifft, who had positioned his squad with spike strips on US-45 near 200th Avenue. Tifft reported the vehicle’s path was so close he feared for his life.
After running over the spike strips and briefly losing control, the Mazda continued fleeing at triple-digit speeds before finally stopping in the 14700 block of State Highway 142. Authorities removed three individuals from the vehicle: Kampas, who was driving, and passengers Brown and Simpson.
Deputies say they found 25 grams of cocaine and over 15 grams of THC inside the car. Cocaine was reportedly visible across every seat and floorboard. One deputy noted that drugs were “within reach of all occupants.” A corner-cut plastic baggie—commonly used for narcotics—was also found under a seat.
Kampas was charged with:
- Three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety (for swerving toward Sergeant Tifft and endangering his passengers)
- One count of fleeing and eluding an officer
- Possession of cocaine, second and subsequent offense
- Possession of THC, second and subsequent offense
All six charges include repeater enhancements due to prior felony convictions. Kampas has an extensive criminal history in Illinois, including recent convictions for manufacturing and delivering both heroin and cocaine, and a 2009 conviction for transporting hazardous materials. One of his most recent convictions resulted in a six-year Department of Corrections sentence in McHenry County in 2024.
In court Tuesday, Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis argued for a $95,000 cash bond and outlined Kampas’ history and the danger posed during the pursuit.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
“We do believe that he was a danger to the community,” Solis said. “This individual is going over 100 miles [per hour] on a posted 55-mile-per-hour zone… this office is no longer going to tolerate fleeing and eluding.”
Solis also emphasized the near miss with Sergeant Tifft, calling the swerve toward the officer an aggravating factor.
The two passengers were charged only with felony cocaine possession as repeat offenders. Simpson reportedly told deputies he was frightened during the chase and repeatedly asked Kampas to stop the car. Both he and Brown denied knowing Kampas well or being aware of the narcotics.
All three men are due back in court for their preliminary hearings on June 18. Kampas faces decades in prison if convicted on all counts.
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7 Responses
Gravely and McNeil enabling criminals is over. Too bad the court commissioners and most judges aren’t on board.
Deport all three of them!
Your same comment over and over for every article is getting old…
Re: “with cocaine and marijuana scattered throughout his vehicle . . .” I’m always amazed by the lack of planning — assuming this quotation is true.
So you think people with a toilet brush hairdo, don’t bother to tidy up their vehicle?
Using a motor vehicle in this manner is Attempted Murder …. against every member of the public …. and the laws need to be changed to reflect this.
Exactly. I’m always amazed at the leniency of our country’s traffic laws. Kill a person while driving under the influence and the sentence should be life in prison. Instead, plea deals and unbelievably light sentences are the norm, not the exception.