Why Chopper Hovered Over La Grange Park

LA GRANGE PARK, IL – La Grange Park residents may have been wondering why a police helicopter was deployed over town earlier this month.

It was the result of a search for a man who stole a large amount of merchandise from an Elmhurst grocery store, Elmhurst police said.

On the afternoon of Aug. 5, James Dalu, 34, of Chicago, and another suspect were at Mariano's, 678 N. York St., when they committed the theft, police said. They sped away in a Mazda.

Officers tried to stop the suspects on Lake Street in Elmhurst. But the driver continued to speed. Officers did not continue to pursue the car because of safety concerns, police spokeswoman Kassondra Schref said in an email Friday to Patch.

The getaway car was spotted shortly after in La Grange Park, One of the suspects, identified as Dalu, was found with the help of a police helicopter and La Grange Park police officers, Schref said. Officers did not find the other suspect.

Dalu was charged with retail theft and burglary. He was taken to the DuPage County Jail.