Armed Felon Flees Hinsdale Officer: Authorities

HINSDALE, IL – A Hinsdale police officer tried to stop a convicted felon from Chicago early Thursday morning, but the man did not comply, authorities said.

About 5 a.m., Rakeem Wilton, 28, was driving a Jeep Patriot with Ohio license plates at Madison and Fourth streets, according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors.

The officer sought to pull him over for improperly using lanes and driving without headlights, police said.

Wilton fled, but ultimately crashed at Vine Street and Hinsdale Avenue after striking a raised curb, police said. He was then accused of getting out of the car and running 50 feet before being captured.

During the chase, police said Wilton threw an object out the window, later determined to be a loaded .380-caliber Smith and Wesson M&P Bodyguard pistol with five rounds in the magazine.

On the Jeep's driver's side floorboard, officers found a .40-caliber Springfield Armory XD-40 pistol with one round in the chamber, police said.

Wilton was charged with the felonies of being an armed habitual criminal and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felony. He also faces multiple misdemeanors and petty offenses, including transportation of open alcohol by a driver.

DuPage County Judge Joshua Dieden ordered Wilton jailed until his trial.

"Due to Mr. Wilton’s criminal history and past felony convictions, he has lost the right to legally possess a gun," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the news release. "The allegations that Mr. Wilton, a convicted felon, was illegally in possession of two loaded weapons in a quiet, residential area near two elementary schools, attempted to flee from police both in the Jeep and on foot and was found with open alcohol in the vehicle, are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in DuPage County."