A man from Chicago, after allegedly leading Naperville police on a high-speed chase, will be detained pre-trial, authorities announced. Dreshaune Manuel, 22, appeared in court today facing a felony charge for Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer, along with several misdemeanor traffic offenses including Reckless Driving, as per a joint release from the Naperville Police Department and the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
During the attempted traffic stop on the night of February 7, Manuel was spotted hitting speeds of 104 mph in a 45 mph zone and refused to pull over when the police signaled him. Before officers stopped him, maneuvering into oncoming traffic, they alleged Manuel, dodging several vehicles.
State's Attorney Robert Berlin mentioned the troubling trend of police pursuits, citing a significant year-on-year increase in such cases in 2023 and referencing the downturn in 2024, "Last year we saw an epidemic of people fleeing from police. After seeing an increase of about 65% in aggravated fleeing and eluding cases in 2023, our response has led to a decrease of 20% of these cases so far this year," he stated. Berlin emphasized the severity of evading law enforcement, as expressed in the release, "Fleeing from law enforcement puts the police officers involved and motoring public at great risk and will not be tolerated in DuPage County. With public safety as my office’s top priority, the message remains the same, if you hear sirens and see flashing lights behind you, pull over." He also acknowledged the efforts of the Naperville Police Department in addressing this public safety concern.
Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres highlighted the ramifications of such reckless behavior, "Fleeing from a lawful traffic stop is both illegal and highly dangerous, putting our officers and other motorists in danger," citing a need for accountability which the current legal actions are aiming to achieve. Given that Manuel had previously faced similar charges, Chief Arres expressed his gratitude for being able to arrest and hold individuals accountable for repeated offenses, and for the collaboration with the State Attorney's Office.
March 4, 2024, has been set for Manuel's arraignment, where he will face Judge Daniel Guerin in court. Until proven guilty, Manuel maintains a presumption of innocence, and the burden of proof lies with the government to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
