By Dee Longfellow
On Friday, Dec. 8, a release was received from the Elmhurst Police Department issued by Police Chief Michael McLean regarding an incident that resulted in two arrests.
According to the release, on Thursday, Dec. 7 at approximately 1:50 a.m., two men were apprehended after attempting to force entry to a business on the 100 block of W. Diversey Ave., then fleeing.
Elmhurst police were dispatched to a burglar alarm call after a security monitoring service reported seeing two men wearing gloves and masks attempting to break through the building windows and door. Upon arrival, officers observed one offender running from the scene. Two officers pursued him on foot and apprehended this first offender about a block away.
At the same time, the second offender fled the business parking lot in a black Nissan sedan with no headlights on and no license plates visible. The Nissan fled onto York Street and entered eastbound I-290. Officers observed the Nissan exit the expressway toward westbound St. Charles Rd.
Two Elmhurst police officers deployed tire deflation devices and disabled the driver-side tires of the Nissan as it drove eastbound on St. Charles Road. The Nissan was pursued by assisting police officers as it drove westbound on I-290 near York Street. As it rolled to a stop, the second burglary offender ran from the car.
An Illinois state trooper and a Bensenville police officer apprehended the second offender on the York Street/I-290 ramp. Both offenders were transported to the Elmhurst Police Dept. to continue the investigation.
Officers and detectives collected evidence from the crime scene and obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s vehicle. The Nissan turned out to be a rental vehicle with the rear license plate removed and the front license plate bent upwards.
In consultation with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office, the offenders were criminally charged as follows:
Steven Smith, 33, of the 6200 blk. of S. Hermitage Ave. in Chicago, was charged with attempted burglary and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.
Deevven Q. Harris, 28, of the 1500 blk. of E. 73rd Place in Chicago, was charged with attempted burglary, aggravated fleeing and eluding, speeding, driving without registration, disobeying traffic control signal, improper lighting, and disobeying stop sign.
Both offenders were transported to the DuPage County Jail to appear in First Appearance Court and were subsequently granted pretrial release.
Members of the public are reminded defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in a court of law.
