A motorist who allegedly pointed a gun at another driver in Forest Park, the afternoon of Jan. 28, was eventually arrested in Rockford after leading several police departments on a two-hour, high-speed chase.
When a Forest Park officer tried to pull over a “suspicious” Dodge Charger, a chase ensued. During the pursuit, the driver, 25-year-old Cornelius Boles, pulled a gun on another motorist, a woman who was in the car with her child, according to police.
The incident occurred on the 600 block of Harlem, Det. Sgt. Mike Keating told the Forest Park Review.
What followed was a two-hour car chase that ended when Boles was involved in an accident in Rockford. He initially tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended by Rockford police.
Inside the car, police found an unspecified amount of cocaine and cash.
Keating said Forest Park units pursued the car onto I-290 until they reached the St. Charles Road intersection. The chase was captured in real-time by an ABC 7 helicopter’s video feed.
Although Forest Park Police have not issued any charges yet, Police Chief Jim Ryan said the department wants to process Boles for aggravated assault.
A passenger in the car, who has not been charged with anything, was hospitalized for injuries he suffered in the crash.
Deputy Chief Tom Aftanas said the Forest Park Police Dept. “hopes” to issue an arrest warrant in Boles’ name in the near future.
Winnebago County officials charged Boles with possessing a controlled substance with intent to deliver, attempted vehicle hijacking, resisting arrest, aggravated reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.
He is currently in the custody of Winnebago County officials.
Asleep at the wheel
An inebriated Cicero man was arrested after he passed out in his running car, which was blocking traffic when police arrived early on Jan. 27.
Police were dispatched to the scene in response to a report that a vehicle was blocking traffic at Harlem and Lexington.
When the responding officer arrived, he found an unconscious Manuel Gil-DeJesus, 30, slumped over the steering wheel. The front and rear driver’s side wheels were also flat.
Because Gil-DeJesus was nonresponsive, an officer broke into the car to remove him.
An ambulance was called and Gil-DeJesus was transported to Loyola University Medical Center because he was unable to stand up or communicate with officers.
After a three-hour observation period, Gil-DeJesus was transferred to police headquarters.
At the station, four hours after police found him, the arrestee submitted to a Breathalyzer. His blood-alcohol concentration was .157 – the legal limit is .08.
Earlier, Gil-DeJesus told the police he had been drinking tequila before he got into his car to go home. Police also learned he has no driver’s license.
Gil-DeJesus received one felony and one misdemeanor charge, respectively, for DUI. Other misdemeanors include: driving with a blood-alcohol-content above .08, driving without a valid license and improper parking on the roadway.
Aggravated assault with BB gun
A BB-gun-wielding Forest Parker was arrested on the night of Jan. 25 after he allegedly pulled the gun on a Taco Bell employee.
A Taco Bell manager at the 7510 Roosevelt store called police after 27-year-old Mario Kendall pulled what appeared to be a handgun on another employee.
Police reported that an employee taking out the trash spotted Kendall and a teenage passenger in a car circling the parking lot.
The employee told the pair to leave, but they became confrontational.
The teen reportedly exited the car and hurled a snowball at the employee. The worker ducked the snowball, but then approached the car, at which point Kendall flashed what appeared to be a “black handgun.” The firearm was actually a BB gun.
After police were called, Kendall’s car was pulled over on the 900 block of Elgin and the two were arrested.
Kendall was charged with aggravated assault and the teen received a citation for disorderly conduct.
– Compiled by Nick Moroni
