Man charged with burglarizing Walgreens while holding child, then fleeing police

Pretrial release has been denied for a man accused of stealing items from a Walgreens store in Hinsdale and then fleeing police in July.

David Freeman, 31, of the 1100 block of 61st Street in Chicago, is charged with one count of burglary, two counts of retail theft and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, all felonies.

He also faces several misdemeanor charges, including endangering the life or health of a child.

Hinsdale police and DuPage County prosecutors allege Freeman stole more than $1,000 in merchandise at 4:33 p.m. July 19 from a Walgreens at 15 Grant Square.

He held a 3- or 4-year-old child while taking antacids, laxatives, liquor, baby formula, baby supplies, razor blades, ice cream and dental items, according to the charges. They were in a torn Walgreens bag, and when confronted by the store manager, Freeman refused to show a receipt and argued, according to the petition for detention filed by assistant state's attorney Michael Pingaj.

Officers were alerted that a Chevrolet Astro van was involved in the theft. Authorities allege Freeman drove off, disobeyed several stop signs and deliberately hit two Hinsdale police squads.

Police stopped the chase due to safety concerns. Detectives learned Dyer, Indiana, police were also investigating Freeman on retail theft charges. Detectives traced Freeman to the Chicago address, where they found 34 "pressed, unused" plastic bags from Walmart, Walgreens, Target and Family Dollar Stores in the van, according to the detention petition. Police believe he uses the bags to commit thefts, according to the petition for detention. Freeman is awaiting trial in a retail theft case in Indiana.

An arrest warrant was issued on Oct. 11, and Freeman was arrested on Monday. He had his first court appearance on Tuesday. Judge Joshua Dieden ruled Freeman was a risk to the safety of the community. The judge also ruled there was a risk Freeman would willfully flee and that there were no conditions he could place that would guarantee safety or attendance at court if Freeman was released pretrial.