Drivers charged with speeding away from Naperville, Lombard police
Two drivers have been charged with leading police on separate high-speed chases across parts of DuPage County over Presidents Day weekend, authorities said.
A 17-year-old from Gilberts faces felony charges stemming from a Naperville police chase early Saturday, prosecutors said. After officers had boxed in the teen’s vehicle, he repeatedly crashed his car into the police squad cars parked in front of him and behind him until one of the squad cars was pushed out of the way, according to the DuPage state’s attorney’s office.
The teen crashed into a city electric box as he fled the area and sped away from police at 115 mph during the chase, prosecutors said. The pursuit ended in Dekalb County.
The teen, who was not identified because he is a minor, has been charged with one felony count of aggravated fleeing and eluding police and two felony counts of criminal damage to government-supported property. The teen is next due in court Tuesday in front of Judge Chantelle Porter.
In another case, a Chicago man is accused of leading police on a chase on east Roosevelt Road in Lombard before crashing his car into a light pole at Ogden and Western avenues in Chicago at approximately 1:09 a.m. Saturday, prosecutors said.
Dexter Williams, 37, is charged with one felony count of receive, possess or sell a stolen motor vehicle or essential part, one felony count of aggravated fleeing and eluding and one felony count of possession of burglary tools. He also faces a dozen misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses, including resisting or obstructing a police officer.
After crashing his vehicle, Williams and two other people attempted to flee on foot before being taken into custody, prosecutors said. When searching Williams’ vehicle, authorities allegedly found four catalytic converters, a jack, a Sawzall and Sawzall blades.
Judge James McCluskey granted a request from prosecutors to detain Williams pretrial. Williams is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment on March 18.