Armed Driver Follows Car For 7 Miles In Road Rage Incident: Mount Prospect PD

MOUNT PROSPECT, IL — A Wheeling man has been charged with multiple felonies following a recent road rage incident in which police said he followed another car for seven miles while pointing a gun equipped with a red laser at the victims.

Edwin C. Laguna, 38, of the 300 block of Highland Avenue, Wheeling, was arrested March 23 in connection with the incident, which Mount Prospect police said occurred on the previous day. He is currently being held in the Cook County Jail pending his next court appearance, scheduled for Tuesday.

At around 4 p.m. March 22, the two victims met police at the Mount Prospect Police Department to report the incident. The victims said they had just been followed for seven miles by a blue-colored Jeep SUV in which the driver had been aggressively moving the vehicle toward their car.

The victims told police that they initially noticed the driver, later identified as Laguana, in the 1100 block of Boxwood Drive gesturing toward them with possible gang signs. After deciding to drive away from Laguna, they said he began following them.

As the pursuit continued, the victims said they saw a red laser coming from the Jeep, which was pointed at them multiple times as Laguna held an unknown object in his hand. They said he also began accelerating the Jeep toward their car, stopping it just before crashing into them multiple times.

The victims continued driving westbound on Kensington Road to the police department during which time they said Laguna stopped following them.

During the subsequent investigation, police were able to identify Laguna's vehicle by using automated license plate recognition cameras. They then tracked the Jeep to the 500 block of Dogwood Lane, where they pulled Laguana over along with two other people in the vehicle.

While speaking with Laguana and his passengers, police said they saw open alcohol containers in the vehicle. During a search of the Jeep, officers also discovered a handgun equipped with a red laser, a possible controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, as well as empty and open alcoholic beverages. The three were then taken into custody.

On March 23, Laguna was charged with the following, as approved by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office:

• one count of felony armed violence
• one count of felony unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon
• one felony count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance
• one felony count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance
• one felony count of aggravated driving while license revoked
• one misdemeanor count of unlawful use of a weapon
• two misdemeanor counts of aggravated assault using a weapon
• two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct
• one misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia
• one misdemeanor count of driving while license revoked
• one misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of cannabis
• one petty offense of transportation of open alcohol

The two passengers of the Jeep were each charged with one petty offense of transportation of open alcohol and were released from custody, according to police.

"The swift and decisive action taken by our officers during this incident removed a dangerous weapon and a violent offender from our community," Mount Prospect Deputy Police Chief Bart Tweedie said. "We will continue to prioritize the arrest of those who choose to endanger our residents, ensuring violent felons are held accountable for their actions and that our neighborhoods remain safe."