DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced April 6 that law enforcement throughout DuPage County continues their efforts to arrest and charge anyone accused of fleeing from the police and putting the pubic at risk.
Recently, officers with the Illinois State Police as well as the Addison, West Chicago and Westmont Police Departments arrested four individuals in unrelated incidents, each charged with at least one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding, a Class 4 felony, in addition to other Misdemeanor and petty offenses. In all four of this week’s cases, the Court granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for the defendant.
These most recent arrests include:
• Ivan Rankins, 25, of Willowbrook. It is alleged that on March 28 at approximately 1:58 a.m., Rankins fled from a Westmont police officer along Rte. 83 near 55th Street, reaching speeds of approximately 110 m.p.h., before abandoning the car at a Burr Ridge pantry. Additionally, Rankins is also charged with multiple Misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including DUI, reckless driving and driving with expired plates. His next court date is scheduled for April 28in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell.
• Angelo Navarro, 20, of Addison. It is alleged that on March 31 at approximately 8:34 p.m., Navarro fled from Addison police officers after an officer observed Navarro’s SUV parked on the sidewalk at Michael and Valerie Lanes. It is alleged that during the chase, which reached speeds of approximately 56 m.p.h. in a 35-mph zone, Navarro ignored multiple stop signs and at one point drove into oncoming traffic. Navarro is facing two charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding and multiple misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including driving motor vehicle on a sidewalk, reckless driving, driving while license suspended and speeding. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 27 in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
• Carlos Barrera, 20, West Chicago. It is alleged that on April 2 at approximately 11:45 p.m., when West Chicago police officers attempted to pull Barrera over on Ann Street, he fled at a high rate of speed and ultimately reached speeds of approximately 100 mph on Roosevelt Road. It is alleged that at one point during the pursuit, the officer was traveling head-on towards Barrera’s vehicle and that Barrera struck another vehicle that was stopped at a stop sign in order to evade the officer. Barrera is charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, one count of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon (Class 4 felony) and multiple misdemeanor offenses including battery and driving while license suspended.
• Dionna Curtis, 41, of Fairburn, Georgia. It is alleged that on April 6 at approximately 2:14 a.m., Curtis was driving her vehicle eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-88. It is alleged that when an Illinois State Trooper pulled behind her and activated his emergency lights and siren, she continued to drive at approximately 64 m.p.h. As Curtis allegedly fled from the officer, she allegedly switched lanes multiple times without signaling and at one point, nearly struck a semi-truck head on, and then quickly accelerated away from the officer before pulling over to the left shoulder and stopping her vehicle. It is alleged that Curtis’ BAC at the time was .192. Curtis is also charged with misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including two counts of DUI, transportation of open alcohol by a driver, improper lane usage and a violation of minimum speed limit on the tollway. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 4 in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
