DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis announced today that an Addison juvenile has been charged with leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle. The juvenile, a fourteen-year-old male, appeared at a detention hearing this morning where Judge Kishori Tank ordered that he be released on home detention. The juvenile is charged with one count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Aggravated Fleeing or Eluding a Peace Officer (Class 4 Felony).
On March 18, at approximately 1:00 a.m., an Oak Brook police officer allegedly observed a Toyota stopped at a red light beyond the white boundary line, towards the middle of the intersection of Route 83 and Hodges Road. The officer followed the Toyota and activated his emergency lights near 16th Street, causing the Toyota to come to a stop on the ramp of eastbound Butterfield Road. It is alleged that when the officer approached the passenger side of the Toyota, the driver, later identified as the juvenile, accelerated away at a high rate of speed. The officer returned to his vehicle and initiated pursuit of the juvenile, allegedly reaching speeds of approximately 70 mph on Butterfield Road. It is alleged that during the pursuit, the juvenile ignored red stop lights on multiple occasions along Butterfield Road. It is further alleged that the juvenile drove into a residential area at which time the officer slowed down and terminated pursuit but continued to follow the Toyota’s path of travel. A short time later, the officer observed the Toyota abandoned with significant tire and wheel damage. With the use of a K9 Unit, the juvenile was ultimately located in a shed in the backyard of a home in the 800 block of Saylor Avenue.
“Driving is a privilege, not a right,” Berlin said. “Furthermore, it is a privilege enjoyed by those above sixteen years of age with a valid driver’s license. The allegations that a fourteen-year-old boy attempted to outrun the police in a stolen motor vehicle are extremely disturbing. The charges filed today once again send the message that anyone who attempts to flee from police, regardless of their age, will be caught and will quickly find themselves standing before a judge. I thank the Oak Brook Police Department for not only their efforts on this case, but also for their vigilance in keeping our roadways safe. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Angela Bazianos and Daniel Orescanin for their efforts on this case.”…