Man charged in expressway incident has history of traffic offenses
Matthew Ristau - accused of creating a huge stir on the Eisenhower Expressway last week - is no stranger to traffic court.
The 31-year-old Glen Ellyn man racked up more than a dozen driving-related offenses since 1993 in DuPage County before his latest vehicular escapade. Police shot a passenger in Ristau's car after he crashed it into a police wagon while going the wrong way on the Eisenhower Expressway Friday in Chicago.
Paroled in June 2007 after serving more than a year in prison on a drug-related conviction, Ristau was slated to appear in a DuPage courtroom next month to face charges of driving with a revoked license. That date may be pushed back because of his more recent troubles that have left him jailed in Cook County in lieu of a $500,000 bond, court officials said. That charge stems from an April arrest in Glen Ellyn.
"He won't be able to bond out," said corrections department spokesman Derek Schnapp. "On this thing in Chicago, we've got a warrant out for violating his parole."
For Friday's traffic skirmish, Ristau is charged with several driving infractions, drug possession, battery to a police officer and DUI.
Ristau is accused of fleeing from police after being pulled over on a routine traffic stop near Polk Street and Lavergne Avenue on Chicago's west side at about 1:45 p.m., Chicago police spokesman John Mirabelli said.
Ristau hit an officer as he sped away, Mirabelli said. The injured officer was treated and released from a Chicago hospital.
Ristau then drove eastbound onto the westbound lanes of the Eisenhower and ran into a police wagon responding to the emergency call. After the collision, Ristau continued to attempt to flee and officers opened fire, striking Ristau's passenger in the shoulder.
Mirabelli said the passenger, Thomas Hogueisson, 53, of Wheaton, has been transferred to the Cook County jail as well after being released from the hospital. He is charged with heroin possession and is being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond.
DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said he was hopeful Ristau would face stiff penalties for his latest crimes. Ristau had been jailed in DuPage in the past, but Birkett said none of his driving-related crimes were "eligible for felony charges."
"His revocation was not related to a DUI," he said. "He's just got a bad driving history."
Glen Ellyn police said they sought felony charges after Ristau's April arrest because of his history behind the wheel, but Birkett's office couldn't approve them. Deputy Police Chief Bill Holmer said Ristau's parole status didn't come up during his arrest. Schnapp didn't know why that information wasn't available to officers, but conceded it probably wouldn't have gotten Ristau's parole revoked.
"Normally police alert us, but when it comes to traffic violations it doesn't necessarily constitute a revoking of parole," Schnapp said.
History of driving offenses
Here's a list of some of the driving-related infractions Matthew Ristau has been charged with in DuPage County since 1993.
April 2008: Driving while license revoked
June 2005: Driving while license revoked, speeding 15-20 mph over limit
Nov. 2003: Driving too fast for conditions, driving while license revoked, driving on wrong side of road
Oct. 2003: Operating uninsured motor vehicle, driving while license revoked, use of unsafe tires
Nov. 2001: Driving while license revoked, speeding 21-25 mph over limit, failure to notify address change to secretary of state
July 2001: Driving while license revoked, speeding 21-25 mph over limit
May 2001: Operating uninsured motor vehicle, speeding 26-30 mph over limit, following too closely
Sept. 2000: Operating uninsured motor vehicle, speeding 15-20 mph over limit
Sept. 2000: Improper lane use
July 2000: Speeding 21-25 mph over limit
June 2000: Disobey traffic control device
May 2000: Speeding 21-25 mph over lmit
Oct. 1998: Speeding 15-20 mph over limit
May 1998: Improper display of license plate stickers
Oct. 1993: Failure to yield turning left
Source: DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk's Office