Habitual Offender in Leg Cast Runs From Police After Crash: Police

Riverside, IL - A cast covering a Chicago man's leg didn't stop him from abandoning his car and fleeing police on foot March 25 after an officer tried to stop him for seatbelt and traffic violations.

Giovanni Castrejon, 23 of the 7000 block of West 71st Street in Chicago, later told police he ran because he had a large amount of cannabis and cash in his car, and he didn't want to be arrested because he was on parole, according to Riverside police.

The Riverside officer tried to stop Castrejon at 6:38 p.m. Friday because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt, and he made an illegal lane change without signaling on Ogden Avenue between Harlem and Lional Road.

Castrejon stopped on Ogden near Gage Road, but when the officer got out of his car, Castrejon drove westbound on Ogden to Amelia, then southbound. Police reported he was going 70 mph in a 30 mph zone, and he blew through two stop signs.

He continued speeding until he hit two cars at 43rd Street in Lyons, causing heavy damage. Castrejon then fled on foot, police reported.

The officer tried to catch up to Castrejon, but he'd already run off when the officer arrived at the crash site.

"The entire incident from the traffic stop to where the vehicle crashed lasted under two minutes," said Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel in a statement. "I am very thankful there were no injuries as a result of any of the crashes that occurred by this individual criminal act.”

A witness in a nearby home pointed police in the direction Castrejon ran. Police found him fleeing through yards, though the leg cast made it difficult for him to run. Castrejon was arrested at Amelia and 44th Street in Lyons.

Police learned Castrejon was shot several times during a drug-related incident a few weeks ago in Chicago, which was the reason for his leg cast, police reported.

A K-9 search of Castrejon's car uncovered two pounds of cannabis, packaged for delivery, $19,050 cash and equipment and material for manufacturing and delivering cannabis, police reported. Police also found $689 in cash in Castrejon's pockets.

Castrejon was charged with felony manufacture and delivery of cannabis, felony possession of cannabis, felony aggravated fleeing and eluding police, driving while license suspended and possession of drug paraphernalia, police reported. He was also issued citations for running stop signs and speeding.

He was ordered held without bond.

Police said Castrejon was in Riverside to sell cannabis to anyone he saw on the street or outside homes. He is familiar with the area because his parents live nearby in Lyons, and he was headed to their home when he ran from police.

Castrejon has been arrested 30 times before for traffic offenses, obstruction of police, weapons charges, assault charges and criminal sexual assault, police reported. He has not had a valid driver's license since 2009, and he's been arrested 15 times for driving without a license. He is also a self-admitted, documented street gang member, and he's on parole for a felony domestic battery and weapons arrest, according to police.

“Mr. Castrejon, who is only 23 years of age, has 30 prior arrests and a long driving history, which classifies him as a habitual driving offender had a total disregard for the safety of anyone in his path, and his only goal was to flee from police at any cost,” Weitzel said.

Photos courtesy of Riverside police.