Police: Footprints link teen to accident

The shoeprints an Aurora teen left at a snowy accident scene in St. Charles this week didn't melt nearly as quickly as his alibi, police said.

Eleazar V. Piceno, 19, initially told officers that it must have been a thief who crashed his 2000 Lincoln Navigator into a utility pole early Sunday and then fled.

But he decided to "come clean" after officers at the scene pointed out shoeprints identical to his own in the snow next to the driver's side door, an arrest report said.

In addition to the footprints, police said they found a set of metal knuckles in Piceno's center console and an open bottle of vodka behind the driver's seat.

In all, Piceno ended up being charged with eight crimes, including felony disorderly conduct for giving false information to police, unlawful use of a weapon and underage drinking. He also was charged with two counts of drunken driving, hit and run, illegal transportation of alcohol and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

The crash took place about 2:30 a.m. on the 3900 block of East Main Street. According to police, Piceno had fled to Pheasant Run Resort a few blocks away, where he called to report his vehicle stolen.