On Tuesday, Dec. 27, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean announced that Judge Demetrios Panoushis had ordered that a Chicago juvenile accused of stealing a vehicle from an Elmhurst car dealership will be detained until at least his next court appearance.
The juvenile, a 13-year-old male, has been charged with one count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 2 Felony), one count of Possession of Burglary Tools (Class 4 Felony), one count of Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property and one count of Misdemeanor Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer.
On Monday, Dec. 26, at approximately 1:38 a.m., a patrol officer with the Elmhurst Police Department responded to a call for two parked vehicles, a 2020 Kia Forte and a SUV, on the side of N. York Road. It is alleged that as the officer pulled up behind the vehicles, both vehicles sped away. The officer activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicles. It is alleged that the vehicles continued to flee from the officer reaching speeds of approximately 70 mph. It is further alleged that the Kia Forte, driven by the juvenile, drove into oncoming traffic. The pursuit was terminated a short time later out of safety concerns.
Through the course of their investigation, officers learned that the Kia Forte was stolen from the Wilkins Hyundai dealership earlier that night. At approximately 3:12 a.m., the Oak Park Police Department located the Kia Forte with the juvenile found in the front seat. He was taken into custody at this time. It is alleged that prior to the pursuit, the juvenile went to the Wilkins Hyundai car dealership, broke a window to the Kia Forte and drove the car off the lot.
“It is alleged that in the middle of the night, a 13-year-old boy traveled to DuPage County, broke into a vehicle and drove off, eventually leading police on a high-speed chase without regard for public safety,” Berlin said. “The increase in violent juvenile crime we have experienced is extremely disturbing. I want to be perfectly clear however, in DuPage County anyone who commits this type of behavior, regardless of their age, will be caught and held accountable.
“I thank the Elmhurst Police Department for their efforts and professionalism on this case as well as the Oak Park Police Department for their work in detaining the juvenile suspect.”
“This juvenile endangered the public when fleeing from responding police officers while committing this crime,” McLean said. “He is fortunate he did not injure any other motorists or himself. I thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his office for their work on this case. I also wish to thank the Oak Park Police Department for their assistance in this case.”
The juvenile’s next court appearance is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 13, in front of Judge Panoushis.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. Also, in the case of suspects under the age of 17, names are not used.
