Elmhurst woman along with 2 children charged with beating driver

Marie Velez, 40 allegedly stepped in front of a car that was traveling eastbound on Grand Avenue near the I-290 overpass, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. The 63-year-old driver stopped his car and Velez and four children who were with her opened his car door and began punching the driver in the head.

Velez and the children, who were between ages 12 and 15, then stole his wallet and fled the scene. They were arrested a short time later at a local Extended Stay America hotel, officials said.

Velez has been charged with robbery of a victim over 60 years old, aggravated battery in a public place and several misdemeanors, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Two minors who were with her were each charged with one count of robbery, two counts of
aggravated battery in a public place and one misdemeanor count of theft.

It is unclear if all four children participated in the beating, or just the two who have been charged, and what exactly the two charged ages were.

"The allegations that a grown woman enlisted the help of two juveniles and together they robbed and beat an innocent man are outrageous," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. "The type of brazen, unprovoked attack alleged against these defendants will not be tolerated in DuPage County and will be met with the full force of the law."

A DuPage County judge granted the states' motion to deny a pre-trial release for Velez, as such she is being held on a no-bail bond awaiting an initial arraignment hearing.

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