Gun Drawn On Driver In Road Rage Incident That Led To High-Speed Chase: PD

NAPERVILLE, IL — Police say a man led Naperville officers on a high-speed chase Friday night following a road rage incident in which he pulled a gun on another driver.

Jose Gutierrez, 31, of Cicero, was charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, transportation of open alcohol by a driver, reckless driving, resisting a police officer and aggravated assault. He was denied pretrial release.

Police were called to the intersection of Plank Road and Naperville Boulevard early Friday night for a reported road rage incident that involved one driver pointing a handgun at another driver. Police pulled Gutierrez over just before 9 p.m.

Gutierrez is accused of stopping briefly before driving off. Police followed Gutierrez and used a stop stick while he was stopped at a light. Gutierrez is further accused of driving over the stop stick and heading north on Naper Boulevard "at a high rate of speed," a news release said.

Prosecutors say police had their emergency sirens and lights on as they followed Gutierrez onto I-88 east. According to police, Gutierrez drove at more than 95 mph as he darted in and out of traffic and continued onto I-355 and onto Roosevelt Road via Finley Road.

Officers had placed another stop stick on Roosevelt and reported that Gutierrez also drove over that stop stick and continued to drive on east on Roosevelt on the car's rims. Gutierrez is accused of exceeding 90 mph and exiting his car after he stopped on Roosevelt.

Police say he then ran west on Roosevelt and was taken into custody after officers pursued him on foot. Officers reported finding a loaded Phoenix Arms .22 caliber handgun nearby, along with ammunition in Gutierrez's car.

“The allegations that following a road rage incident, Mr. Gutierrez pointed a loaded weapon at another motorist and then proceeded to lead authorities on a dangerous high-speed chase are outrageous,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Berlin added, “I want to remind motorists that in DuPage County we will not tolerate the type of reckless behavior alleged in this case that puts not only the accused at risk, but also the officers involved as well as the motoring public. As I’ve said in the past but bears repeating, if you hear sirens and see lights behind you, pull over. Do not attempt to outrun the police as you will not be successful and will only make matters worse for yourself."

Gutierrez was set to appear in court Monday.