Handcuffed man accused of escaping Elmhurst police charged

A 37-year-old Chicago man has been charged with felony retail theft, felony escape and possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from a theft at a CVS Pharmacy, Elmhurst police said Thursday.

Police said they stopped a vehicle with three people inside around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday near North and Larch avenues after the theft at the pharmacy at 110 W. North Ave.

Fernando Perez Jr., of the 3900 block of West North Avenue in Chicago, was handcuffed and placed in an Elmhurst patrol car, but he escaped while officers were checking the suspect's vehicle.

Police searched the area on foot and with the help of police dogs and Perez was apprehended without incident around 10:15 p.m. near North Avenue and York Road.

The driver of the vehicle, Rufino V. Hernandez, 54, of the 2400 block of North McVicker Avenue in Chicago, also was taken into custody on charges of driving with a suspended license and disobeying a traffic control device. The other passenger was released without charges.

Perez was being held Thursday in the DuPage County jail.