After Running Out Of Gas In Stolen Car, Wisconsin Teen Arrested, Charged With Trespassing In Wilmette: Police

WILMETTE, IL — The driver of a stolen car found at a Wilmette gas station was arrested, but prosecutors declined to press charges for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, police said. Instead, the 18-year Milwaukee man was charged with criminal trespassing after officers responded to the closed BP gas station in the 800 block of Skokie Boulevard around 12:11 a.m. on Aug. 31.

The five people told police they were from Milwaukee and had run out of gas, police said. After further investigation, police learned that the car, a 2005 silver Chrysler 300 with a Wisconsin temporary plate, had been recently reported stolen from Wisconsin.

Two adults and three juveniles were detained and taken to the Wilmette police station for further investigation. During an interrogation, the 18-year-old driver told police he had recently bought the car from an acquaintance for $800. Police said he told them he knew it had been stolen. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Wilmette — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The Felony Review Unit of the Cook County State's Attorney's office denied charges for felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle, so instead the driver was charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to motor vehicle and was released on bond.

The other four occupants were released without charges, Wilmette police declined to state their age, gender or hometowns.

A parent drove down from Milwaukee and took custody of all five people who had been in the car, according to police reports, although cops did not say if they were related and declined to confirm if they were Wisconsin residents.

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