Teen faces gun, car theft charges after chase in southern DuPage County
A 17-year-old boy has been accused of leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle in southern DuPage County.
According to a news release from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office, Woodridge police responded around 3:46 a.m. Thursday to the report of a 2007 Toyota Camry stolen from the parking lot of a convenience store at 75th Street and Janes Avenue.
The driver of the Camry had left it unlocked and running when he went into the store.
A Willowbrook officer found the vehicle three minutes later in the 100 block of 75th and tried to stop it, according to the news release.
The teen drove through a red light at Route 83, then drove the wrong way on Burr Ridge Parkway, authorities said. The car started to emit smoke, and the teen left it at Lifetime Drive.
When he was arrested, officers found a loaded 9mm Ruger handgun, with one bullet in the chamber, 5 feet away, according to the news release.
The teen appeared in Juvenile Court on Friday morning, where a judge ordered he be detained until his next court appearance.
He is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, theft, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful use of a firearm.
The teen’s next court date is Jan. 12.