Acquitted Elgin burglary suspect arrested again in police chase
A 32-year-old Elgin man, acquitted of felony burglary earlier this year, appears to be using up his lifelines.
Steven T. Luellen, of the 300 block of Jefferson Avenue, was being held on $75,000 bail at the Kane County jail after his arrest last month on felony charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding police.
Luellen also is charged with driving while license revoked, reckless driving, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia after leading Elgin police on a chase July 23, according to police and court records.
An Elgin police officer pulled Luellen over at 2:18 p.m. at Ball and Crystal streets because there was no registration sticker on the back of his 2005 Buick LaCrosse, according to a police report. Luellen took off, hitting an estimated 55 mph in residential areas, jumping curbs and running over sidewalks before abandoning his vehicle on the 500 block of Hawkins Street, according to a police report.
He eventually was arrested near a shed on the 700 block of Highland Avenue, and a police report indicated an officer saw a small metallic crack pipe fall off him when arrested.
The most serious charges, fleeing and eluding, carry a prison term of between one and three years if convicted.
Earlier this year, Kane County Judge David Akemann acquitted Luellen on felony burglary charges that he broke into an Elgin apartment in September 2010, records show.
If convicted, those charges could have landed Luellen in prison for three to seven years.
According to court records, he has done at least six stints in the Kane County jail for arrests and convictions for battery, domestic battery, resisting arrest and obstructing justice dating back to 2003.
Special Olympics run in Aurora: The Aurora Police Department is closing in on its goal of raising $15,000 this year for the Special Olympics.
The annual “Run for the Athletes Sunset 5K” will be held Wednesday, Aug. 15 along with the third annual “Police vs. Fire 5K Challenge.”
The races will be held rain or shine on the Gilman Bike Trail around Blackberry Farm's Lake Gregory, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora.
The runs begin at 6 p.m., with registration at 4 p.m.
The run raised almost $4,000 last year for Special Olympics and Aurora police have raised $12,350 so far this year.
The course is blacktop and gravel terrain and is certified by USA Track and Field.
The race will be professionally timed and awards will be given for overall winners and age group winners through third place.
The winning police or fire team will receive a traveling trophy.
Last year, 11 teams of police and firefighters competed and the Joliet Fire Department won.
The donation for the “Run for the Athletes Sunset 5K” is $20 in advance and $25 the day of the race.
The “Police vs. Fire 5K Challenge” is $20 per team member.
More information is available at runfortheathletes.com, or by calling Aurora Police Sgt. Doug Podschweit at (630) 256-5772.