DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Bensenville Chief of Police Daniel Schulze have announced that a Wood Dale man stands accused of leading police on an hour-long, 100-mph, high-speed chase.
Anthony Oplinger, 27, appeared before Judge Daniel Guerin who set bond at $100,000. Oplinger is charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding a peace officer, a Class 4 felony, and more than a dozen misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including speeding 35+ mph over the speed limit and reckless driving.
On Tuesday, May 30 at approximately 10:08 p.m., officers with the Bensenville Police Department observed a vehicle near Jefferson Street and Church Road that was wanted out of Schiller Park for an aggravated fleeing and eluding incident in April. Officers activated their emergency lights and sirens and initiated pursuit near Route 83 until the vehicle allegedly entered eastbound I-290, at which time an Illinois State Police helicopter and airplane continued to monitor the vehicle.
It is alleged that the vehicle, later determined to be driven by Oplinger, continued to drive on I-290 to Chicago only to return to Route 83 in Bensenville at which time Bensenville police officers reactivated their lights and sirens and continued pursuing the vehicle. It is further alleged that after officers deployed spike strips, Oplinger continued to drive to unincorporated Addison where he pulled into a random driveway and fled the vehicle on foot. Oplinger was taken into custody a short time later. It is alleged that the entire pursuit lasted for approximately one hour and that Oplinger reached speeds in excess of 100 mph. At the time of his arrest, Oplinger’s driver’s license suspended.
Oplinger’s next court appearance is scheduled Wednesday, June 28 for arraignment in front of Judge Guerin.
