Man Charged After Leaving Traffic Stop, Crashing: Palatine Police

PALATINE, IL — The Palatine Police Department said a Villa Park man is facing several charges including aggravated feeling and eluding after police reported he sped away from a Feb. 27 traffic stop on Rand Road before crashing. According to police, just after 6 p.m. that day, a Palatine officer saw a red Dodge Durango commit several traffic violations in the 800 block of E. Dundee Road, before the SUV turned northbound onto Rand Road. That's when police said the officer tried to stop the SUV, driven by a man now identified as 43-year-old Zorinsky L. Thomas, who is accused of driving away northbound on Rand Road at a high speed when the squad car's siren and lights were turned on.

Police said minutes later, dispatch notified officers of a traffic crash involving a red SUV in the 2000 block of N. Rand Road, with the driver looking injured as he ran from the scene. Police determined it was the same SUV involved in the failed traffic stop.

Palatine police and area-wide K9 officers found Thomas inside the fenced area of the UPS facility at 2050 N. Hicks Road, police said.

According to police, the SUV hit four unoccupied vehicles that were parked at a private business along Rand Road, causing an estimated $28,000 in damages.

Police said Thomas was taken to Northwest Community Hospital where he was treated for injuries he sustained in the crash, and was then released. He was charged with one felony county of aggravated fleeing and eluding, driving while license revoked, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, improper lane usage, illegal use of a handheld electronic communication device, and was also wanted on a failure to appear warrant for a Kendall County court order violation, according to police.

Thomas was taken to the Cook County Third District Courthouse where a judge set his bond at $75,000 "D," requiring Thomas to post 10 percent to be released, and his net court date is set for 10:30 a.m., March 21, police said.