A drunk Wisconsin man was arrested after police said he stole tires and wheels from cars in Lake Bluff and then crashed into a semi-truck in Highland Park early Thursday morning.
Francisco J. DeJesus-Rivera, 28, of 3741 61st Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been charged with theft, criminal damage to property, driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of an accident and driving in the wrong lanes of traffic.
The Highland Park Police Department was called around 1 a.m. after DeJesus-Rivera crashed into a semi-truck near Route 41 north of Half Day Road. Police said he turned left into oncoming traffic in the wrong lanes of Route 41 and crashed into the semi-truck.
DeJesus-Rivera then fled the scene on foot. A witness gave police a description of him and officers began searching with a police canine dog. When police arrested him they said he appeared to be drunk and smelled of alcohol. DeJesus-Rivera refused a field sobriety test.
While DeJesus-Rivera was in custody in Highland Park, Lake Bluff police officers on patrol came across three vehicles that had their wheels removed in the parking lot of the Lake Bluff Metra Station.
“Officers were able to obtain basic evidence from the scene, and information was broadcast through dispatch to local agencies for a possible offender,” Lake Bluff Police Chief David Belmonte said.
Highland Park police officers noticed tires and wheels in the vehicle DeJesus-Rivera was driving and notified Lake Bluff police. The suspect was turned over to Lake Bluff police where he confessed to the thefts of the wheels and tires.
DeJesus-Rivera’s bond was set at $1,500. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 22.