Recently paroled man charged with attempted burglary in Elmhurst

A 22-year-old Chicago man who was paroled from prison five weeks ago now faces charges of attempted burglary, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and resisting arrest after trying to burglarize an Elmhurst residence while in possession of a stolen car, authorities said Wednesday.

Ivan Mendez, of the 1300 block of Lorel Avenue, is being held in DuPage County jail on $100,000 bail.

Elmhurst police said they were called about 1:20 a.m. Monday to the 800 block of Washington Street for a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in a driveway. The vehicle, a Nissan Rogue SUV, had been reported stolen several weeks earlier.

Roughly 15 minutes later, an Elmhurst officer spotted a man walking in a backyard on Van Buren Street. When the officer tried to make contact, the man, later identified as Mendez, fled, according to a news release.

Police said their investigation found Mendez drove the stolen vehicle to the Washington Street address and then attempted to enter the garage of a home on West Van Buren.

At roughly 8 a.m. Monday, another officer spotted Mendez walking along St. Charles Road. Mendez again fled, but this time he was found in a garage on Elm Street in Villa Park and was taken into custody, authorities said.

"These allegations are extremely serious and will not be tolerated in DuPage County," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. "Any action that violates the sanctity of a person's home, which includes their garage, is unacceptable and will be met with the full force of the law."

Mendez is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 20 in front of Judge Robert Miller.