DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean announced that Judge Kishori Tank has ordered that a seventeen-year-old Mount Prospect juvenile accused of possession of a firearm and fleeing from police will be detained until at least his next court appearance. The juvenile, who appeared at his detention hearing yesterday afternoon has been charged with one count of Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Class 4 Felony) and two counts of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer (Class 4 Felony).
A police officer with the Elmhurst Police Department on patrol allegedly observed a black BMW sedan weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed southbound on Route 83 at about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2026. When the officer activated his emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop at Route 83 and St. Charles Road, the vehicle, the driver of the allegedly fled. As the juvenile driver fled, he ignored a red light at Route 83 and Riverside Drive, and crashed into a white Toyota RAV-4, one of the vehicle’s occupants to suffer a broken leg. The juvenile was immediately taken into custody. When searching the BMW, authorities allegedly found a backpack containing a handgun with no serial number (ghost gun) with an extended magazine with twenty-four 9mm rounds.
“The allegations that this juvenile led officers on a high-speed chase and then crashed into another vehicle, injuring one of that vehicle’s occupants, are outrageous. To further aggravate the situation, it is alleged that the juvenile also was illegally in possession of a ghost gun with an extended magazine and twenty-four rounds of ammunition. This type of blatant disregard for the law and public safety will not be tolerated in DuPage County. I commend the Elmhurst Police Department for their efforts in the apprehension of the juvenile in this case and for their continued efforts in keeping our neighborhoods safe. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Angela Bazianos and Anna Derkacz for their efforts in preparing a strong case against this juvenile.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin
“This juvenile offender showed complete disregard for the safety of the community by allegedly driving recklessly on IL Route 83, swerving around, and cutting off other motorists, even before the officer attempted a traffic stop. This dangerous individual then allegedly put innocent lives further at risk when he chose to flee while armed with an illegal, unserialized extended magazine ‘ghost gun’ causing an injury crash. I thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his staff for working to ensure the juvenile offender will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
— Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean
The Mount Prospect juvenile’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 2, 2026, in front of Judge Tank.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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