Three arrested in sting outside courthouse

Elgin police arrested three men Monday during a sting operation aimed capturing illegal drivers as they drove away from court appearances on traffic offenses that should have kept them from getting behind the wheel.

All three drivers were arrested minutes after appearing in Elgin's branch court on charges ranging from driving on a suspended license to driving with no license at all.

"We routinely monitor court calls in an effort to address those violators who are defiant, completely ignore the law and appear to have no regard for the consequences of their actions," Elgin Deputy police Chief Jeff Swoboda said.

The sting involved posting an officer in court to monitor defendants who were not supposed to be driving, then relaying the information relaying over a radio to officers stationed outside the courthouse.

If an officer spotted one of the defendants getting into a car and driving away, he was pulled over and placed under arrest, police said.

Arrested were:

• Gerardo Guillen, 25, of the 300 block of Griswold Street, Elgin, who had appeared in court for driving while license suspended.

• Rodolfo Gonzalez, 21, of the 0-100 block of Souster Avenue, Elgin, who was in court for driving without a valid license

•Horacio Garcia-Perez, 28, of the 1800 block of Cambridge Drive, Carpentersville, also in court for driving with no valid license.

All three posted $100 bond following their arrest. Guillen and Garcia-Perez were given a Feb. 9 court date at Elgin Branch Court. Gonzalez was ordered to appear there March 2.