Honda Civic Forfeiture: Motorist Did Not Wear Seat Belt, Hid Inside Shorewood Burger King Women's Bathroom

SHOREWOOD, IL — The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow is now trying to seize the 2007 Honda Civic driven by Juan Bello-Rivera, a Bolingbrook man who was arrested by Shorewood police in September in connection with the crime of aggravated fleeing and eluding and also operating an uninsured vehicle.

The forfeiture case will go before a Will County judge on Dec. 3.

According to the complaint, Shorewood Police Officer James Butcher spotted the driver of the 2007 Honda Civic not wearing a seatbelt during his normal traffic patrol duties. The officer then pulled up alongside the car and "still did not see a shoulder strap cross the shoulder. The driver was a male with a red shirt and a baseball cap."

The Shorewood officer saw the car slow and abruptly turn into Ridge Drive with its high-beam headlights activated. The officer continued to follow the car and turned on his emergency police lights as he saw the Honda turn into the Casa Maya Mexican Restaurant at 102 West Jefferson Street. The Honda did not use a turning signal upon entering the parking lot, court files show.

The officer then saw the Honda drive quickly through the parking lot and turn north, failing to stop, exiting onto Route 59.

The Honda accelerated going south on Route 59, crossed the painted median and drove around another vehicle in order to turn east on Route 52. Officer Butcher then activated the sirens and as the Honda drove eastbound, changed lanes and failed to signal, court files show.

As the officer got closer, the Honda locked its brakes and made a U-turn behind the squad car and tried to drive around another vehicle that slowed down. The Honda eventually turned into the Shorewood Burger King parking at lot at 100 East Jefferson.

Officer Butcher and Officer Nicholas Hjerpe went inside the Burger King, but they were not stopping for flame-broiled Whoppers. An employee alerted them that the fleeing motorist ran into the bathroom. The two officers found Bello "in the women's restroom with his red shirt and baseball cap in his hand," the forfeiture indicated.

The officers retrieved the car keys from Bello's pocket and placed the Bolingbrook man under arrest on charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding. He was also cited for not having motor vehicle insurance.

According to the forfeiture documents, the car being seized belongs to another member of his family, Omar Bello-Rivera. The Bolingbrook resident was sent a notice on Monday advising him of the Honda Civic forfeiture hearing on Dec. 3.

Shorewood police had the car towed away from Burger King and now the car may become an asset for the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow.

Incidentally, last week Joliet attorney Frank Andreano issued a press release announcing that "in what is believed to be a legal first, Will County Judge Brian Barrett has ordered the Will County Sheriff to pay James Nowak of New Lenox over $19,000 in damages resulting from a botched forfeiture. Under Illinois law all money from civil asset forfeitures are transferred directly to the arresting police agency and the prosecutor’s office, which they can use almost without restriction," Andreano pointed out in his press release.

According to Andreano, in 2023, Nowak’s former employer, Veritas Claims Management, told the Tinley Park Police that Nowak took intellectual property to start a competing insurance adjustment business. Because Nowak lived in New Lenox, the investigation was transferred to the Will County Sheriff, and in cooperation with the States Attorney’s Office, all of Nowak’s business and personal accounts were seized, including his E-Trade investment account. Prosecutors dismissed the case in early 2025, and the seized money was ordered returned.