Chase 'Epidemic' Continues In Oak Brook: Official

OAK BROOK, IL – A man who led Oak Brook police on a chase over the weekend was arrested after reaching 100 mph, authorities said.

Chevelle Carter, 31, of Calumet City, was charged with the felonies of aggravated fleeing and eluding and attempting to elude an officer.

About 7:30 p.m. Saturday, an Oak Brook officer saw three people repeatedly entering and leaving their car and entering the Oak Brook Center mall. A short time later, Oak Brook police received a call about a number of people acting suspiciously with credit cards that were repeatedly denied, according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors.

The officer then saw the same car from before pull up near Macy's department store and pick up two others, police said. The officer approached the vehicle in his squad car.

The driver, identified as Carter, then drove away, weaving in and out of the parking lot, authorities said. He then struck a parked car, causing a minor injury to an occupant, police said.

The officer activated his emergency lights and tried to pull over Carter. Instead, Carter left the mall, ignored a traffic light and drove east on 22nd Street, reaching 100 mph, prosecutors said. He went to York Road, ran a red light and drove east on Roosevelt Road, police said.

Just before entering the Interstate 290 ramp, Carter came to a stop after driving over spike strips placed by another officer, according to the news release. He and two others ran away.

A little while later, officers arrested Carter. They found a Smith and Wesson 9mm gun and two Glock 9mm guns in the car, police said. All were reported as loaded, while the Smith and Wesson was stolen in Indiana, police said.

Carter was wanted on a warrant in Lake County, Indiana, for a probation violation on vehicle theft charges, authorities said.

"What I find extremely troubling about this recent epidemic of people fleeing from the police is that we had two cases this past weekend involving a defendant allegedly fleeing from police that caused injury to an innocent person," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. "We are all very thankful that the injury sustained by the innocent man in the parked car does not appear to be serious. This phenomenon of ignoring the police and putting innocent motorists in harm’s way must stop before someone gets killed."