A Round Lake Beach man, who is a convicted felon, is accused of leading police on a high-speed chase before being arrested and found with a loaded gun and drugs.
Fernando Poblete Lopez, 29, of Round Lake Beach, was charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number and possession of methamphetamine.
An unmarked Oak Brook police squad attempted a traffic stop on a black Ford Explorer near 22nd Street and Midwest Road in Oak Brook around 3:20 p.m. Monday.
The Ford committed an improper lane change and had a tinted windshield.
Prosecutors said the driver of the vehicle, later determined to be Poblete Lopez, did not stop after officers activated their emergency lights and sirens.
The Ford disobeyed the stop sign at Midwest Road and Comar, entered southbound traffic on Midwest Road and then entered the parking lot of a gas station.
Poblete Lopez drove out of the gas station westbound on 22nd Street and ultimately made his way to eastbound Interstate 88, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Poblete Lopez continued to flee from police onto eastbound Interstate 290 where he exited the highway at Manheim Road southbound.
Poblete Lopez traveled to westbound Roosevelt Road where he exited the vehicle near Roosevelt Road and Euclid Avenue in Oak Park and fled on foot, prosecutors said.
He was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit.
Prosecutors said Poblete Lopez reached speeds of approximately 81 mph in a 45-mph zone prior to entering the expressway and speeds of approximately 91 mph after getting onto the expressway.
Poblete Lopez was in possession of approximately 24.2 grams of methamphetamine, which he threw away during the foot pursuit.
Officers located a loaded 9mm Sig Sauer handgun with a fully loaded magazine and defaced serial number while searching the man’s car.
“The allegations that Mr. Poblete Lopez fled from police at a high rate of speed on an extremely busy road in the midst of the holiday shopping season are outrageous,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said.
“For the second time in a week, a defendant who thought they could outrun law enforcement found out that in DuPage County law enforcement is well trained and prepared to safely apprehend those who would flee instead of pulling over. Thankfully, Mr. Poblete Lopez’s alleged actions did not cause injury to any innocent pedestrians or motorists,” Berlin said.
“I thank the Oak Brook Police Department for their work on this case and for their ongoing efforts in keeping our roads safe, particularly now during the busy holiday season. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Sean Kinsella and Nicholas Covert for their efforts in preparing charges against Mr. Poblete Lopez,” Berlin added.
DuPage County Judge Joshua Dieden granted a motion to detain Poblete Lopez pending trial.
“Once again, a dangerous armed felon found out that if you come to Oak Brook with bad intentions and the belief that you can flee from the police without consequence you are wrong,” Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis said.
“Our officers are steadfast in our efforts to keep this community safe. I’d like to thank all of the law enforcement agencies that assisted us with this arrest. I’d also like to thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his team for their assistance and guidance on this case,” Strockis said.
Poblete Lopez is set to appear in court again on December 23 for an arraignment hearing.
In December 2019, Poblete Lopez was arrested following a seven-hour standoff in Round Lake involving dozens of police officers and a SWAT team that came to an end after the man, who was barricaded in an attic, was sprayed by a fire hose.