Hinsdale Cop Chases Armed DUI Suspect: Police

HINSDALE, IL — A man who was three times the legal limit for alcohol drove away from a pursuing police officer and crashed early Sunday morning in Hinsdale, authorities said.

The suspect was identified as James Ruffin, 27, of Chicago.

About 1 a.m., a Hinsdale police officer noticed a car stopped in the westbound lanes of Ogden Avenue, according to a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. The officer pulled behind the car, got out and approached it. Ruffin also got out of his car, saw the officer approaching him, got back inside and drove away, police said.

While trying to get away, Ruffin crashed into traffic equipment at Ogden and Madison Street and continued driving, police said. The officer briefly followed Ruffin.

A short time later, a Westmont police officer saw a car matching the description pulling into a parking lot at an apartment complex. The original Hinsdale officer arrived and placed Ruffin under arrest.

Officers found a fully loaded pistol with a 30-round clip in Ruffin's car, even though he is a convicted felon, police said. His blood-alcohol content was reported at .256.

"It is alleged that Mr. Ruffin, a convicted felon who was illegally in possession of a handgun with an extended magazine, was driving drunk and, when approached by police officers, showed a complete disregard for authority and put the motoring public at risk by fleeing from the police,” State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release.

In the release, Hinsdale Police Chief Brian King said it was the second time in less than a week that a traffic stop yielded a handgun with an extended clip that was believed to be in possession of a felon.

Ruffin faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of misdemeanor DUI, police said.

Ruffin's bond was set at $50,000, with his next court appearance set for Jan. 5, the news release said.