A Honduran national was arrested after authorities say he stole a car, pushing the female driver away, in Waukegan and then drove recklessly at high speeds through a neighborhood where children were playing.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 7:20 p.m. on May 17 to a 911 call for a vehicle theft near McAlister Avenue and Ravine Avenue. When officers arrived, they spoke with the victim.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Eryka Jones said the victim reported she was driving her black 2021 Chevrolet SUV with her boyfriend.
The two began arguing and the woman parked the car on McAlister Avenue and Ravine Avenue and she exited.
The car was still on while she and her boyfriend were arguing on the sidewalk, Jones said.
A Hispanic man with a black tank top and black pants approached the car, opened the driver’s side door and began driving off.
He was later identified as Yefry N. Sauceda-Montecinos, 26, of Waukegan.
Jones said the victim reported that she attempted to enter the car through the passenger side door to turn the vehicle off but Sauceda-Montecinos pushed her away so she was unsuccessful.
The victim had the keys to the car on her person while speaking with the police.
Sauceda-Montecinos was still able to drive away without the keys inside the car due to the push-to-start feature.
Sauceda-Montecinos drove northbound on McAlister Avenue at a “very high” rate of speed, Jones said.
The Waukegan Police Department received an aggressive driver alert on Genesse Street for the same black Chevrolet SUV moments after Sauceda-Montecinos stole the car from the victim.
Jones said a witness called the North Chicago Police Department to report the reckless driving.
She said that the black SUV was driving at a high rate of speed on McAlister Avenue and 11th Street. The car was following people at unsafe distances.
Sauceda-Montecinos was driving like that while kids were playing outside and near the roads, Jones said.
The witness saw Sauceda-Montecinos get out of the Chevrolet and provided a description of him.
The North Chicago Police Department found the vehicle on McAlister Avenue near 11th Street.
Jones said the car was parked outside Sauceda-Montecinos’ residence. They spoke to Sauceda-Montecinos, who was standing about five to 10 feet away from the stolen car, matching the suspect description.
Sauceda-Montecinos admitted to driving the victim’s car and officers placed him under arrest.
The officers observed Sauceda-Montecinos to be highly intoxicated and took him to the hospital to be cleared prior to booking.
Sauceda-Montecinos had a 0.28 blood alcohol content, more than three times the legal drinking limit, Jones said.
Sauceda-Montecinos was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, a Class 2 felony, and burglary, a Class 3 felony. He was not charged with driving under the influence or vehicular hijacking.
The car was returned to the owner, who had just purchased the car, but it had fresh damage to the front passenger rim.
“This defendant’s behavior placed the community in danger. His disregard for everyone’s safety was shown by driving at high rates of speed, while highly intoxicated, at around 7 PM where there is high foot traffic and a larger amount of vehicles on the road,” Jones said.
“The witness saw the defendant driving erratically on a road where children were present and playing,” she said.
Sauceda-Montecinos was on pre-trial release at the time of the offense for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, obstructing a peace officer and unlawful use of a knife. He was actively wanted in the case due to failing to appear in court.
The man said in court that he is not a U.S. citizen and is from Honduras.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to revoke his pre-trial release in the old case since he committed a new offense while on release in violation of his pre-trial conditions.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition and Sauceda-Montecinos remains held in the Lake County Jail.
Nerheim said it was a “miracle” that no one was hurt or killed.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on August 26 for a case management conference.