Man charged with fleeing police in stolen car while intoxicated

A man is being detained pretrial in DuPage County, accused of fleeing police while intoxicated in a stolen car in Villa Park.

Jeremiah Funches, 21, of the 1400 block of South Lacy, Riverdale, is charged with unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, burglary, aggravated fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of a property-damage crash, and driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination.

According to a news release from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office, a worker at the Kohl’s store at 303 S. Route 83 called police late Tuesday morning to report a theft. The worker said a man took an Adidas backpack, put clothing into it and left without paying.

Funches then entered a Kia Sorento that had been reported stolen in LaSalle County.

Around 11:48 a.m., police received a license plate reader alert and told other departments. A Villa Park officer spotted the car at Villa Avenue and St. Charles Road and tried to pull it over.

Funches continued driving, disregarding stop signs in a residential area and reaching a speed of up to 90 mph. He hit a car on Roosevelt Road, and ultimately crashed into a wooden ComEd electrical pole. Nobody was injured.

According to a prosecutor’s petition for detention, Funches told police that he had taken a train to LaSalle County, saw an unoccupied car with keys in it and took the car. He also said he had been taking pills and smoking marijuana.

The petition stated the car was stolen in Ottawa sometime overnight Sunday to Monday.

His next court date is Aug. 18.