Suspect in Wheaton carjacking captured after high-speed chase

A Chicago man accused of an armed carjacking in Wheaton appeared in DuPage County court Sunday, when a judge ordered him held in jail while awaiting trial.

Andrew Strong, 25, faces charges of aggravated vehicular hijacking, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated fleeing and eluding stemming from the carjacking and an ensuing high-speed chase Friday, authorities said.

According to DuPage County prosecutors, the carjacking occurred at about 12:45 a.m. Friday when the victim pulled his 2020 Acura MDX into a driveway in the 1000 block of East Willow Avenue.

The man heard a knock on his window then saw someone wearing a black ski mask and black zip-up hoodie holding a gun, prosecutors said. After he was ordered to get out of the car, a man got in and drove away, while another man — alleged to be Strong — followed in a Nissan Sentra, authorities said.

The vehicles later were seen traveling east on Roosevelt Road by a Glen Ellyn police officer, who attempted the make a traffic stop. The drivers fled, reaching speeds up to 100 mph in a 35 mph zone, prosecutors said.

The pursuit of the Nissan ended when it drove over spike strips and crashed on a curb, authorities said. Two suspects fled the vehicle, and Strong was captured in a residential neighborhood nearby, prosecutors said.

Authorities said a black handgun was found on a passenger seat in the Nissan.

“Judge (Louis) Aranda’s decision to deny pretrial release for Mr. Strong sends a crystal-clear message that in DuPage County, we will not tolerate violent criminal activity, as alleged in this case,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release Sunday. “Thankfully, no one was physically injured as a result of Mr. Strong’s alleged actions.”

Strong’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 24.

Authorities did not say what happened to the carjacked Acura or the second person seen fleeing the Nissan.