Bond set for Calumet City man accused in high-speed chase through Oak Brook

Bond was July 30 at $75,000 for a Calumet City man accused of leading police on a high-speed chase Saturday July 29 from Oakbrook Center.

Chevelle Carter, 31, of the 12000 block of S. Ada Street, was charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding, a Class 3 Felony, and one count of attempting to elude a peace officer, a Class 4 Felony. Carter is scheduled to appear in court again Aug. 28 for arraignment in front of Judge Mia McPherson, according to information from the office of DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin.

According to Berlin’s office, an Oak Brook officer on patrol in the Oakbrook Center parking lot about 7:20 p.m. Saturday July 29 observed three people repeatedly entering and exiting their vehicle and entering the mall. A short time later, Oak Brook police received a call about multiple people acting suspiciously with credit cards that were repeatedly denied.

The officer then observed the same vehicle pull up near Macy’s and pick up two people. The officer approached the vehicle in his squad car at which time the vehicle reportedly began to drive away, weaving in and out of the parking lot and striking a parked car, causing a minor injury to the car’s occupant.

The officer activated his emergency lights and attempted to pull the car over, but the vehicle, reportedly driven by Carter, exited the mall, ignored a red light at a traffic signal and drove eastbound on 22nd Street.

Carter reportedly drove about 100 mph on 22nd Street to York Road and again ignored a traffic signal to head north on York Road, again reaching a speed of approximately 100 mph.

From there, Carter reportedly went eastbound on Roosevelt Road and came to a stop just before entering the Interstate 290 ramp, after driving over spike strips placed by another officer.

Carter and two other unidentified people reportedly fled the vehicle on foot, and a short time later, officers took Carter into custody, according to Berlin’s office.

When officers searched the vehicle, they recovered one Smith and Wesson 9 mm firearm and two Glock 9 mm firearms, Berlin’s office reported. All three guns were loaded and the Smith and Wesson was reported stolen out of Indiana. Through their investigation into the matter, authorities learned that Carter has a fugitive warrant out of Lake County, Indiana, for probation violation on vehicle theft charges. All three weapons recovered were sent to the DuPage County Crime Lab for analysis.

“What I find extremely troubling about this recent epidemic of people fleeing from the police is that we had two cases this past weekend involving a defendant allegedly fleeing from police that caused injury to an innocent person,” Berlin said in a release. “We are all very thankful that the injury sustained by the innocent man in the parked car does not appear to be serious.

“This phenomenon of ignoring the police and putting innocent motorists in harm’s way must stop before someone gets killed. I urge all motorists, if you hear sirens and see flashing lights behind you, pull over. Not doing so will not only make matters worse, but also puts all those involved as well as innocent people at risk.”

Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said his department is 100% committed to keeping the community safe.

“Police pursuits are extremely dangerous but it’s also dangerous for criminals to believe that there are no consequences for their actions,” he said in the release. “If you come to Oak Brook to commit a crime, you will be caught, arrested, charged and prosecuted.”

Strockis said Oak Brook detectives are working to identify the others involved in the incident, and they will be brought to justice.

An investigation into the matter continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Jason Wood of the Oak Brook Police Department, (630) 368-8750