West Chicago man charged after high speed chase, police say

A West Chicago man is facing charges after police say he led them on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of 100 mph.

Carlos Barrera, 20, of the 30W200 block of Brown Street, has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, and multiple misdemeanor offenses.

On Friday, he was ordered to remain in the DuPage County jail.

West Chicago police say they responded at about 11:45 p.m. Thursday to the 800 block of Lincoln Avenue after a 911 call about a driver flashing a gun at a man who was walking his dog. An officer found and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, officials said.

According to a news release from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office, Barrera fled westbound on Ann Street at a high rate of speed, making his way to Roosevelt Road, where the officer paced Barrera’s speed at approximately 100 mph near Winfield Road.

Authorities say that at one point during the pursuit, the officer was traveling head-on toward Barrera’s vehicle and that Barrera struck another vehicle that was stopped at a stop sign in order to evade the officer.

Wheaton police officers were ultimately able to successfully spike strip Barrera’s vehicle and arrest him, officials said.

According to prosecutors, officers searched the vehicle and located a loaded 9 mm handgun with one bullet in the chamber.

Barrera’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 27.