Prairie State Wire

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Mike Rivas announced that two Aurora juveniles, one of which was allegedly armed, have been accused of leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car. Both juveniles appeared at a detention hearing yesterday where Judge Demetrios Panoushis ordered that they be detained until at least their next court appearance. One of the juveniles, a seventeen-year-old male, is charged with one count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 2 Felony), one count of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer (Class 4 Felony) and two counts of Misdemeanor Reckless Driving. The other juvenile, a fifteen-year-old male, is charged with three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4 Felony) and one count of Misdemeanor Criminal Trespass to a Vehicle.  

On March 21, 2023, at approximately 9:55 a.m., a Villa Park police officer located a car that was reported stolen out of Naperville the previous day traveling eastbound on Roosevelt Road. The officer activated his emergency lights and attempted to pull over the vehicle, a Honda CRV. It is alleged that instead of pulling over, the Honda fled from the officer at times reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. It is alleged that the pursuit continued along I-88 and I-290 where the driver exited the expressway on 25th Avenue. It is further alleged that the pursuit ended when the CRV came to a dead end on Derby Lane in Westchester, at which time the juveniles fled on foot. The juveniles were located in a barber shop approximately one quarter mile away and taken into custody. Through the course of the arrest, officers located a loaded Polymer 80 9mm handgun without a serial number, underneath a pile of wood along the route the juveniles allegedly ran when they fled. It is alleged that one of the juveniles was previously in possession of the handgun and attempted to hide it from authorities when he fled.

“It is alleged that for the second time this week, a suspect attempted to outrun authorities,” Berlin said. “Additionally, for the second time this week, a suspect who allegedly attempted to flee from police officers was apprehended and charged. This behavior is extremely dangerous and puts not only the accused, but the officers involved as well as the motoring public at tremendous risk. The message is clear, if you hear sirens and see flashing lights behind you, pull over. Leading police on a high-speed chase is not the answer and will only make matters worse. I thank the Villa Park Police department for their outstanding work on this case as well as the Oak Brook, Westchester, and Broadview police departments for their assistance. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Katharine Klosowski and Sara Henley for their efforts in preparing a strong case against each of these defendants.”

“We have seen time and again that subjects allegedly in possession of a stolen vehicle will be in possession of a weapon to be used to commit more violent crime in our communities.” Rivas said. “Based on this repetitive behavior, and relationship between stolen vehicles and additional violent crimes committed, the Villa Park Police Department will use every resource at our disposal to go after subjects in stolen vehicles. A stolen vehicle, fleeing from police at a high rate of speed, places everyone in danger in their path. We urge everyone to stop and pull to the right for emergency lights and siren for everyone’s safety. We commend our police officer for his vigilance and bravery in pursuing the stolen vehicle in this case. We would like to thank the police departments of Oak Brook, Westchester, and Broadview for their assistance in safely taking these subjects into custody as well as DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and his office for levying these serious charges against these alleged offenders.”

The juveniles’ next court appearance is scheduled for March 30, 2023, in front of Judge Panoushis.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.   

Original source can be found here.