A man led police on a reckless high-speed chase in a minivan, leaving his passengers in fear for their lives, in Waukegan after incorrectly believing he had an active warrant, prosecutors said.
Julio J. Valentino, 36, of Island Lake, was charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing to elude, resisting a peace officer, obstructing a peace officer, driving on a revoked license and several traffic offenses.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said officers on patrol around 11:52 p.m. on October 31 observed a blue Chrysler Pacifica, driven by Valentino, with its left turn signal activated.
The vehicle approached the intersection of Jackson Street and Dugdale Road in Waukegan but continued without turning.
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Chrysler and Valentino initially pulled into a gas station but then accelerated at a very high rate of speed westbound on Belvidere Road, McConnell said.
Officers were traveling in pursuit at speeds of more than 65 mph but the Chrysler was gaining distance on them in an area with a 30 mph speed limit.
Valentino continued to flee at a high rate of speed, running red lights at Belvidere Road and Glen Rock Avenue as well as at Belvidere Road and Lewis Avenue, McConnell said.
He turned into a bank parking lot and turned around before getting back on Belvidere Road and then traveling southbound on Elmwood Avenue.
McConnell said Valentino ran a stop sign at Elmwood Avenue and Dugdale Road, stopped the vehicle and fled on foot.
Officers gave chase and Valentino ignored commands to stop. He resisted and fought with officers before eventually being arrested, McConnell said.
McConnell said officers had initially considered terminating the pursuit for the community’s safety but saw the front passenger hit Valentino on his arm and waved to police, signaling they were in distress.
The front passenger later told police he was afraid for his life as well as the lives of others on the road and the other two passengers in the car, who also said they feared for their lives.
The front passenger was telling Valentino throughout the chase to pull over and stop fleeing before someone got hurt but he ignored the passenger, McConnell said.
Valentino’s girlfriend was in the car and she told police that Valentino fled from officers because he thought he had an arrest warrant. It turned out that he did not have a warrant, McConnell said.
Valentino’s driver’s license was suspended at the time and he was on parole in a McHenry County case where he was hit with weapon and drug charges, as well as possession of a stolen vehicle.
He also has a prior conviction out of Florida for robbery. Valentino admitted to fleeing and said he knew his license was suspended, McConnell said.
“This Defendant also has a history that includes multiple failure to appear warrants, community-based sentences terminated unsat, and bond on bond offenses which are all indicative of his inability or unwillingness to abide by Court orders, particularly given the fact that he is on parole,” McConnell said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Valentino pending trial, arguing he poses a danger to the community, and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the request during a detention hearing.
Valentino remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on Monday for a preliminary hearing.