Crime & Safety
Man On Run For 7 Years Charged With Sexual Abuse Of Child: Palatine PD
Police believe the Palatine man had fled the country when they obtained an arrest warrant in 2017.
PALATINE, IL — A man who police believe fled the country seven years ago as he was facing a charge of sexually assaulting a child has been arrested. Christian Castellanos-Merino, 32, of the 600 block of Constitution Drive, Palatine, is accused of felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse and was charged on Saturday.
Castellanos-Merino was released following his arrest and is due back in court on Nov. 15.
Police said the arrest stems from a 2017 investigation where a juvenile victim had come forward to report the abuse. In 2017, Palatine detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Castellanos-Merino, but suspected he had fled from the United States.
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On Saturday, police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation and found Castellanos-Merino as the driver of the vehicle. Castellanos-Merino was taken into custody and charged with the outstanding warrant.
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