On Wednesday, January 11, at approximately 10:55 a.m., the West Chicago Police Department received a call from a woman at the Speedway gas station on the corner of Roosevelt Road and Washington Street claiming she was the victim of domestic violence by her boyfriend.
According to a statement from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, the victim was at her home with the man when a verbal altercation began. It is alleged that the altercation became physical and that the suspect hit the woman approximately one hundred times with a belt over the course of several hours and would not allow the victim to leave the home.
The victim ultimately was able to call authorities from the gas station. Officers with the West Chicago Police Department were able to locate the man in his vehicle at the same gas station a short time later. It is alleged that when officers attempted to speak with him he drove off. As officers pursued the suspect, he ignored their commands to pull over and at times drove approximately 70 mph in a 35-mph zone. During the chase, the suspect struck two police cars, one from West Chicago and one from Warrenville, before coming to a stop on I-88. He was arrested at this time.
On Thursday, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury announced that bond was set for the Merrillville, Indiana man at $200,000 with 10% to apply. He has been charged with two counts of Class 4 Felony Domestic Battery and two counts of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, a Class 4 Felony.
“It is alleged that a verbal argument between [the accused] and his girlfriend turned physical resulting in [the accused] administering an hours-long, vicious beating with a belt,” Berlin said. “It is further alleged that in an attempt to avoid responsibility for his actions, [the accused] displayed a complete lack of respect for the law and public safety by leading police on a high-speed chase along a busy roadway. In DuPage County, we have zero tolerance for domestic violence as well as the total disregard for the safety of the motoring public and anyone accused of such actions will be arrested, charged and vigorously prosecuted.”
The accused’s next court appearance is scheduled for February 9, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge McPherson.
