Suspect In Willow Springs Backyard Where Child Played: Cops

WILLOW SPRINGS, IL – Two burglary suspects being pursued by officers ended up near a Willow Springs elementary school, with one of them hiding in a backyard where a child was playing, police said Thursday.

The men were identified as Kawann Moore, 39, and Richard Pegue, 35, both of Chicago, according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors. They were ordered jailed until trial.

Shortly after noon Wednesday, Lombard police were called about a burglary to a car where the men were believed to have stolen two chainsaws, valued at $200 each, police said. The men got away.

A short while later, an Oak Brook police officer saw the men in a gold minivan near 31st Street and Midwest Club Parkway, police said.

Moore, the driver, sped away onto Interstate 55, where he nearly struck a motorcyclist and reached speeds of 120 mph, police said.

On Ogden Avenue, Moore ran red lights and sped up to 100 mph in a 35 mph zone, prosecutors said.

The men got out of the car near 80th Place and Howard Avenue. That is close to Pleasantdale Elementary School, where students were outside for recess, police said.

Pegue ran away, but was caught near the school.

Moore fled into a wooded area and was arrested after a homeowner called 911 to report that he was holding Moore at gunpoint, according to the news release. The homeowner found Moore hiding in his backyard, where his 9-year-old child was playing, police said.

Moore and Pegue each face a felony count of burglary and two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer. Moore was charged with another count of aggravated fleeing because of a prior conviction for that offense, police said.

"What I find particularly disturbing are the allegations that not only did the defendants flee on foot near a school while children were outside for recess, one of the defendants was caught in a residential backyard where a child was playing outside," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the news release.