Des Plaines police charge driver with battery to officer

A Chicago man Des Plaines police say was driving 16 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone was arrested last week on multiple charges - including striking one officer with his vehicle.

Aldo Arellano Mondragon, 27, of the 3500 block of North Ozark Avenue, faces charges of aggravated battery to a police officer, resisting or obstructing a peace officer, driving under the influence of drugs, driving without a valid license, fleeing or attempting to elude police and aggravated driving under the influence.

Police said that at 3:58 a.m. on Tuesday, a patrol officer was headed south on the 1700 block of South Mount Prospect Road when he saw the gray Acura sedan driven by Mondragon headed in the opposite direction at less than half the speed limit and with no rear registration light.

The Acura made a right turn onto eastbound Oakton Street without using his turn signal, police said. The officer said the Acura's tires crossed over the lane lines multiple times, and the car came to a complete stop twice. The officer brought the Acura to the curb near Oakton Street and Fairmont Court. Other officers arrived.

Police said Mondragon refused to get out of the car. Officers opened the driver's-side door, and one reached in to turn the vehicle off when Mondragon pushed his hand away, put the vehicle in drive and jolted forward, police said, sending the officer backward and hurling his right upper body into the pillar of the vehicle.

Mondragon drove away while officers followed. The officers left off the pursuit, but about two hours later a vehicle matching the description was found in the median of the 100 block of West Oakton Street.

Police used their squad cars to box in the Acura. Police said Mondragon was still inside the car and he again refused to exit. When an officer reached into the vehicle to take the keys, a struggle ensued, reports said.

Another officer pulled Mondragon's feet away from the accelerator as other officers entered through the passenger door and removed the keys from the ignition.

Mondragon, police said, told officers that he had taken an unknown amount of pain killers prior to driving. Authorities said he failed field sobriety tests and was taken to a hospital to determine his level of intoxication, where he became uncooperative, officers said.

Mondragon also was cited with not having a rear registration plate light, failure to signal, improper lane use, improper parking on the roadway and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.