Vodka Thief Hits Cop With Car During Fleeing Attempt: Des Plaines PD

DES PLAINES, IL — A 32-year-old Des Plaines man is facing a bevy of charges, including two felonies, following a series of incidents Friday morning. Richard Villarreal, of the 2100 block of Pratt Avenue, is accused of hitting a police officer with his car. He remains behind bars in the Cook County Jail and is due in court Tuesday.

Villarreal was charged with the following:

• aggravated battery to a peace officer (felony)
• aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (felony)
• retail theft (misdemeanor)
• resisting a peace officer (misdemeanor)
• operation of a vehicle with revoked registration (misdemeanor)
• disregarding a stop sign (four tickets)

Police were dispatched at 10 a.m. March 1, for a report of retail theft at a store in the 1900 block of E. Touhy Avenue. The subject, later identified as Villarreal, had been seen in the liquor aisle taking a bottle of Skyy vodka from the shelf and concealing it within his jacket. He then proceeded to the checkout area, paid for some items, but never removed the vodka from his jacket.

Villarreal was confronted by a store employee at the exit before he led the parking lot in a black Pontiac Vibe. He was wearing black shorts and a black Carhartt jacket. The complainant also provided dispatch with the license plate attached to the Pontiac.

A witness inside the store confirmed to police that he had seen Villarreal place the vodka in his cart, but later in the aisle did not see. The witness did see a noticeable bulge in Villarreal's jacket. Surveillance of the incident confirmed the complainant and witness statements.

Police later found the car near Elm and Oakton streets. The officer activated his overhead emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop at the location, but the vehicle failed to stop and fled from the officer. The officer followed and saw it disobeying multiples stop signs as it continued to flee. Near Howard Avenue and Maple Street, the officer deactivated his emergency lights and disengaged.

Soon thereafter, the officer saw the Pontiac again, this time near Birch Street and Touhy Avenue. After advising on the radio of the updated location, additional units responded to assist in taking Villarreal into custody. The initial officer to see the vehicle was standing near the driver's side of the vehicle, giving verbal commands to Villarreal through the open window. Additional officers stood near the passenger side, where they saw Villarreal reaching into his jacket just before he shifted his vehicle's gear into "reverse." Villarreal pushed the gas pedal and propelled the vehicle backward into the officer on the driver's side, causing him to fall to the ground.

One of the additional officers was able to reach through the passenger window, put the vehicle in "park" and remove the keys from the ignition. Officers then gave Villarreal verbal commands to exit the vehicle to which he refused and was eventually escorted out of the driver's seat.

Once outside outside the vehicle, Villarreal refused to comply with instructions to place his hands behind his back and would continuously pull them under his torso so officers could not place him in handcuffs. Eventually, he was taken into custody. The witness confirmed he was the subject that stole the bottle of vodka from the store.

The Des Plaines Fire Department took the officer to the hospital for minor injuries. Villarreal was taken to the Des Plaines police station and given his Miranda Rights. Villarreal waived his rights and spoke with the officers regarding the incident, where he conveyed that he was at the store
on Lee Street, but did not steal anything. Villarreal also admitted to reversing toward the officer, but he did not believe he was traveling fast enough to run him over.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office was contacted due to the nature of the incident and subsequently approved the felony charges.