A 19-year-old Woodridge man will stay in jail after a judge denied his pre-trial release following a high-speed police chase through Woodridge and Darien on Friday, Oct. 2.
Laron Robinson of the 7700 block of Deer Street faces three counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding, one count of criminal damage to government-supported property and more than 30 misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses, according to a DuPage County State's Attorney's Office news release first reported by Shaw Local.
Robinson's next court appearance is set for Monday, Nov. 2.
The chase
Woodridge police spotted Robinson driving a white Kia sedan on Woodward Avenue at about 7:58 p.m., prosecutors said. An officer followed the car into a residential area and tried to stop it at Concord Drive and Pioneer Avenue.
Robinson allegedly sped away on Concord Drive, blowing through stop signs at Stonewall Avenue and Springside Avenue. The officer lost sight of the Kia after it turned south onto Springside Avenue.
Six minutes later, at about 8:04 p.m., a crash was reported at Devereux Road and 75th Street. The white Kia had allegedly struck another vehicle and fled.
About 10 minutes after that, a second crash was reported at Lemont Road and Woodmere Drive. The Kia allegedly struck a Ford pickup truck on the front driver's side after passing it and attempting to cut back in front, prosecutors said.
Darien officer encounter
At 8:42 p.m., a Darien police officer spotted the Kia in the 8000 block of Windsor Drive and attempted a stop. Robinson allegedly fled again, reaching about 50 mph in a 25-mph zone.
Robinson allegedly drove head-on toward the Darien officer, passing on the wrong side of the road. He then fled to the 7800 block of Lemont Road, again driving into oncoming traffic, prosecutors said.
The chase continued to Lyman Avenue and Manning Road, where Robinson allegedly reached about 70 mph in a 45-mph zone before stopping in a residential driveway in the 900 block of Rob Roy Place.
Robinson allegedly backed into the officer's squad car, then drove forward into bushes on the lawn. The car got stuck. Officers arrested him there.
State's attorney responds
DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin called the allegations outrageous in a statement, saying Robinson allegedly drove through residential neighborhoods at times on the wrong side of the road and crashed into two vehicles on separate occasions. Berlin said he found it particularly disturbing that Robinson allegedly refused to surrender even after being boxed in and was taken into custody only after his car got stuck.
Robinson remains in DuPage County Jail. Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Woodridge Police Department or the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
