Chase Goes Through Elmhurst, Villa Park

VILLA PARK, IL – A man who reached speeds of nearly 90 mph in Villa Park led officers on a chase that included neighboring Elmhurst, authorities said.

The driver was identified as Nikko De Pasquale, 29, of Addison, who now faces felony charges.

Shortly before midnight Thursday, Villa Park officers saw a red 2002 Pontiac Coupe speeding north on Ardmore Avenue and running a stop sign, according to a news release from prosecutors. The driver, De Pasquale, did not stop for officers and, instead, made a U-turn and sped away from them, police said.

Prosecutors said De Pasquale sped up to 89 mph in a 25 mph zone and went east on Interstate 290. Officers deployed two mobile "stop sticks," which deflated two of De Pasquale's tires.

He then took the North Avenue exit into Elmhurst, drove to Northlake, made another U-turn and re-entered westbound I-290. On the expressway, De Pasquale came to a stop near York Street, where officers arrested him, police said.

"Unfortunately, we have yet to see a significant decrease in the number of cases involving defendants fleeing from police," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the news release. "This type of conduct is extremely dangerous and puts not only the driver at risk, but also puts the police officers involved and the public in harm’s way."

De Pasquale was charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer and multiple petty traffic offenses. He was on parole for unauthorized use of a weapon by a felon and escape, prosecutors said.

He was taken to the DuPage County Jail. His bond was set at $75,000, with a requirement that he pay 10 percent to be released.