2 Accused Of Beating Up Elderly Man, Driving Through Crash Scene: Cops

OAK LAWN, IL — Two Chicago men accused of beating an elderly man during a robbery and then driving through a major accident investigation and fleeing the scene before crashing were both arrested after being released from the hospital, Oak Lawn police said.

Ivan Garduno, 26, and 31-year-old Heberto Flores, of Chicago were charged with a variety of offenses including aggravated battery, robbery, reckless driving, driving under the influence, driving while license suspended, possession of controlled substance (cocaine) and 16 traffic violations including "Scott's Law." The law is named in remembrance of CFD Lieutenant Scott Gillen, who was killed by an intoxicated driver while assisting at a crash scene on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Around 8 p.m. Friday, officers went to the Citgo gas station, 6801 W. 87th St., where police said two men were reported beating an elderly man. An Oak Lawn police sergeant who responded, saw two men enter a black Nissan Versa and flee westbound on 87th Street, police said.

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The sergeant attempted to stop the car in the shopping mall at 87th Street and Harlem Avenue. Police said the pair continued to flee and drove through an active crash investigation at 84th Street and Harlem Avenue. Bridgeview police were in the middle of dealing with a car that struck a utility pole and was dangling over Harlem Avenue.

The car proceeded into Burbank, where it eventually crashed into another vehicle in the intersection of 83rd Street and Nottingham Avenue, police said.

The 74-year-old man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center and treated for broken ribs and facial contusions. Flores and Gardeno were also taken to Advocate Christ, where they were treated and released for minor injuries.

During their investigation, police learned that the elderly man had been robbed of his cell phone and cash. Officers said they found the man’s phone, money and a substance that later tested positive for cocaine.

Both were due for a bond hearing Monday at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building at 26th and California.