Man Who Stole Liquor In Elmhurst Does Same In Lombard: Cops

ELMHURST, IL – A man who stole liquor from an Elmhurst grocery store last month did the same in Lombard this week, authorities said.

Michael Howard, 43, of Chicago, was charged with two counts of retail theft and counts of burglary, fleeing and eluding an officer, and resisting or obstructing a police officer.

A DuPage County judge released Howard last month while he awaited trial.

For the latest charges, Howard was taken to the DuPage County Jail. On Thursday, Judge Brian Telander revoked Howard's previous release terms. He must now stay in jail.

On the night of March 15, Howard and another man stole 26 bottles of liquor, valued at $1,200, from Jewel at 944 S. York St. in Elmhurst, police said.

On Wednesday, Lombard police officers responded to a retail theft in progress at Mariano's on Roosevelt Road. The suspect, later identified as Howard, sped away from officers, according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors.

The pursuit continued with help from Oak Brook and Villa Park police. Oak Brook police deployed tire deflation devices, stopping Howard's car, police said.

Howard refused to get out of his car and resisted a Villa Park officer's attempts to move him, the news release said.

Officers found 18 bottles of alcohol in Howard's car and another one in his pants, police said.

"It is alleged that Mr. Howard, who is currently on pre-trial release for stealing alcohol from a DuPage County grocery store, thumbed his nose at the law and again stole alcohol from a DuPage County grocery store," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the news release.