Elburn police chase ends in charges

A Bloomington, Ill., man led Elburn police on a high-speed chase Saturday after a bottle of beer fell out of his van during a traffic stop, police said.

Daniel E. Minor, 44, drove in excess of 70 mph at times, although he slowed down in residential areas, before pulling over and surrendering on Route 47 just south of Main Street Road, according to police.

"He stopped on his own," Police Chief Steven Smith said. "He could have kept going."

Smith said the chase began when a beer bottle fell from Minor's 2000 GMC van as he opened the driver's side door during a traffic stop at 1:30 a.m. on Route 47, north of Hughes Road. He said Minor then closed the door and hit the gas pedal, fleeing toward downtown Elburn.

Police said a train prevented Minor from crossing over to the north side of the village, so he led the pursuit through neighborhoods east and west of Route 47, running multiple stop signs before turning south and pulling over.

Fortunately, Smith said, few other cars were on the road.

"That was the saving grace in this whole thing," he said.

Minor, who has prior DUI convictions, was charged with aggravated fleeing, aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, and possession of drug paraphernalia and cannabis, among other offenses, according to police.

He was being held Monday in the Kane County jail with bond set at $50,000. He needs to pay $5,000 to get out of jail.

His next court date is May 19.