A man street racing in a stolen car was arrested after nearly striking a squad car, crashing and fleeing on foot in Vernon Hills while armed with a loaded gun, prosecutors said.
Reynaldo O. Catuy, 18, of Arlington Heights, was charged with four counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a stolen vehicle, obstructing a peace officer, street racing, reckless driving, fleeing and attempting to elude an officer, failure to notify of a crash, driving without a license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, headlight or taillight violation, unsafe tires, improper traffic lane usage and failure to reduce speed.
The Mundelein Police Department notified area police departments about multiple speeding cars on July 24, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis.
A black 2018 Hyundai Elantra was seen driving near Route 60 and Lakeview Parkway in Vernon Hills around 1:30 a.m.
The Hyundai, driven by Catuy, nearly struck a parked squad car, Theis said.
The Hyundai was driving on two flat tires and swerved on the road before striking a Bank of America sign.
Theis said Catuy got out of the car and ran on foot as officers spotted him drop a gun magazine in the parking lot.
Catuy was also spotted throwing a gun into the bushes while fleeing, Theis said. Officers were able to take him into custody.
The gun magazine was loaded and the gun had a round in the chamber. Catuy is under the age of 21 and does not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification card or concealed carry license.
It was learned the Hyundai was stolen and Catuy admitted to knowing it was stolen, Theis said.
“There are no conditions or combinations of conditions that could reasonably ensure the safety of the community,” Theis argued in court.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted a petition to detain Catuy pending trial following a detention hearing.
The judge noted that Catuy’s actions of driving a stolen vehicle recklessly without headlights, fleeing from police and trying to ditch a loaded gun showed there are no conditions of release to ensure the community’s safety.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled in the case for August 27.