A juvenile offender, aged 17, has been apprehended by the Chicago Police Department and is now facing multiple felony charges including vehicular hijacking. As detailed by a press release from the CPD, the allegations stem from an incident that occurred in the early hours of February 17, where a 26-year-old female was forcefully deprived of her vehicle in the 4700 block of W. Lexington St.
The reported sequence of events escalated when the accused allegedly took off with the car, which also contained a 6-year-old male passenger. Within minutes of the alleged crime, a block away from the hijacking scene was the child, reportedly unharmed. The juvenile was placed under arrest at approximately 4:35 a.m. on the Eisenhower Expressway.
Apart from the vehicular hijacking count, the juvenile faces charges for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle or being a driver of one, a felony count for aggravated fleeing from the police at speeds exceeding 21 miles over the limit for the second time, and a couple of misdemeanors – one for causing a child to be endangered and obstructing identification.
The incident also led to a citation for damage to state highway infrastructure. It's not yet clear what the circumstances were that led to the damage, but the citation indicates involvement in some form of destructive action. Details surrounding the juvenile's identity and circumstances have been withheld, as is typical due to the involvement of a minor in an ongoing investigation.
The Chicago Police Department has made no further statements regarding the ongoing case or the juvenile's current custodial status.
