Aurora Boys Drove Over 100 MPH Attempting To Flee PD In Stolen Car: SA

AURORA, IL — Two Aurora teenagers have been accused of leading police on a high-speed chase using a car stolen from Naperville, officials at the DuPage County State's Attorney Office said Thursday.

A 17-year-old boy was charged with one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer and two counts of misdemeanor reckless driving. The other boy, 15, was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass to a vehicle.

Officials did not reveal the boys' identities.

The charges were announced two days after Villa Park police located a car, a Honda CRV, that was reported stolen out of Naperville the previous day. It was around 9:55 a.m. Tuesday, officials said, when the officer found the car driving east on Roosevelt Road and attempted to pull them over by activating his emergency lights.

Instead of pulling over, the Honda fled from police, at times reaching speeds higher than 100 mph, according to the state's attorney's office. The chase continued along I-88 and I-290, where the driver exited the express onto 25th Avenue.

The pursuit ended when the Honda turned onto Derby Lane, a dead-end street in Westchester. The teenagers fled on foot before police found them in a barber shop about a quarter-mile away, according to officials.

As the boys were being arrested, police said officers found a loaded 9 mm handgun without a serial number underneath a pile of wood along the route the teens ran. Police believe one of the boys dropped the gun in an attempt to hide it from officers.

"This behavior is extremely dangerous and puts not only the accused, but the officers involved as well as the motoring public at tremendous risk," DuPage State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. "The message is clear, if you hear sirens and see flashing lights behind you, pull over. Leading police on a high-speed chase is not the answer and will only make matters worse."

Villa Park Police Chief Mike Rivas said this was the second instance of someone attempting to outrun officers this week alone.

"We have seen time and again that subjects allegedly in possession of a stolen vehicle will be in possession of a weapon to be used to commit more violent crime in our communities," he said in a statement. "Based on this repetitive behavior, and relationship between stolen vehicles and additional violent crimes committed, the Villa Park Police Department will use every resource at our disposal to go after subjects in stolen vehicles. A stolen vehicle, fleeing from police at a high rate of speed, places everyone in danger in their path. We urge everyone to stop and pull to the right for emergency lights and siren for everyone’s safety. We commend our police officer for his vigilance and bravery in pursuing the stolen vehicle in this case."