Four charged after attempted break-in, police chase in Wheaton
A Chicago man and three male teenagers face felony charges after they attempted to break into a Wheaton home Sunday night and then led police on a chase, authorities said.
Gerardo Flores, 18, of the 4900 block of West Fletcher Street, and the three juveniles were charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and attempted residential burglary. Flores is being held in DuPage County jail on $150,000 bond. The three teens will appear Tuesday at a detention hearing.
Wheaton police were called just before 7 p.m. to a report of a residential burglary in the area of 1600 East Pershing Avenue, south of Roosevelt Road. A witness saw three people trying to break into a house, police said.
The trio fled to an awaiting Dodge van driven by a fourth person. The witness followed the suspects and gave information to the responding officers.
The van was reported stolen in Chicago, authorities said.
Wheaton officers spotted the vehicle near Farnham Lane and Naperville Road and attempted to stop it, but the suspects fled. Officers gave chase and eventually used stop ticks, a tire-deflating device, to disable one of the van's tires.
Police said they stopped the pursuit as the van drove on the wheel rim.
The suspects abandoned the van on the 800 block of North West Street and ran away, police said. A perimeter was established and Reverse 911 was used to alert residents to the potential threat.
A police dog from Elmhurst helped with tracking the suspects to a backyard shed a few blocks away.
All four suspects were taken into custody without incident, police said.
"A home is a place where family comes together to enjoy each other's company," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. "It is a place of belonging and safety. It is alleged that last night, Mr. Flores and his co-defendants, traveled from Chicago intent on destroying the sanctuary that a home provides."
Flores' next court date is scheduled for May 7 in front of Judge George Bakalis.