High-Speed Chase Enters Elmhurst Neighborhood: Cops

VILLA PARK, IL – A high-speed chase involving a stolen car started in Villa Park and went through an Elmhurst neighborhood, authorities said.

Jujuan Barnes, 19, of Dolton, who was armed, faces felony charges, police said.

About 3 a.m. Monday, Villa Park officers saw a black Dodge Charger that was stolen from a car dealership in St. Charles. It was said to be driven by Barnes.

Barnes refused to stop and sped up to 106 mph near North and Ardmore avenues, trailed by a white Infiniti, according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors.

The drivers of both cars fled from officers on North Avenue. During the pursuit, officers successfully used tire deflation devices on the Charger at Interstate 290 and North Avenue, police said. The Infiniti evaded the spikes.

The cars entered eastbound Interstate 290, exited at St. Charles Road and went into an Elmhurst residential neighborhood. The Charger slowed down, with Barnes and another person getting out and entering the Infiniti, police said.

The Infiniti re-entered Interstate 290, reaching speeds of 100 mph and crashing into a Volvo. A person in the Volvo was injured and taken to a hospital for minor injuries.

After the crash, the Infiniti's four occupants ran away. Barnes was subdued with a Taser, police said. Another person was also taken into custody.

Barnes was found with a loaded Glock 22 handgun in his backpack, along with burglary tools and two generic key fobs capable of being reprogrammed, prosecutors said.

In the Infiniti, officers said they found a loaded RDA handgun with an attached 50-round drum magazine and a loaded Glock 22 with a 50-round drum magazine.

Barnes was charged with the felonies of aggravated unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, attempted aggravated unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (two counts) and aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer.

"The apprehension of the defendant in this case sends the crystal-clear message that in DuPage County, you cannot outrun the law," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. "The allegations that Mr. Barnes led police on a 100-mph high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle while armed with a loaded handgun are extremely serious and will be met with the full force of the law."