What started as a routine overnight traffic stop in the western suburbs turned into a high-speed chase spanning multiple towns, ending quietly near Jorie Plaza with a Chicago driver in handcuffs, prosecutors say.
Around 2:00 a.m. Tuesday, a Hinsdale officer tried to pull over a 2013 Ford Fiesta that allegedly had no rear license plate. Instead of stopping, the driver took off, triggering a pursuit that wound through Hinsdale, Oak Brook and Downers Grove before officers boxed in the car near Jorie Plaza. Prosecutors have identified the driver as 28-year-old Claude Miles of Chicago, who now faces multiple felony counts.
Miles, who lives on the 5400 block of North Kenmore Avenue in Chicago, has been charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding and one count of possession of burglary tools. The attempted traffic stop began near Ogden Avenue and Pasquinelli Drive before the Fiesta sped away, according to Shaw Local.
How the pursuit unfolded
Hinsdale officers initially followed from a distance while Oak Brook police joined the chase on 31st Street. Prosecutors say officers deployed stop sticks at 31st Street and Midwest Road, but even with the spike strips, the Fiesta kept going and ran a red light.
The car then crossed Illinois Route 83 and, according to authorities, straddled lane dividers on Jorie Boulevard before finally stopping near Jorie Plaza, where officers moved in and took the driver into custody without incident. During the chase, the Fiesta hit about 73 mph in a 35 mph zone, per CBS Chicago.
What officers found and the charges
Inside the Fiesta, officers reported finding a flathead screwdriver and a hammer. Investigators later learned the 2013 Ford Fiesta had been reported stolen the previous Monday. DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin called the allegations "disturbing" and praised the judge's decision to detain Miles while the state pursues further action, according to Shaw Local.
Next steps in court
Miles appeared in first-appearance court, where a judge ordered him held as prosecutors move to revoke his pretrial release in a separate burglary and retail-theft case. A hearing on that request is set for Wednesday. The outcome will determine whether Miles stays behind bars while the new aggravated fleeing and eluding charges proceed, according to CBS Chicago.
Why it matters locally
Officials credited quick coordination among Hinsdale, Oak Brook and Downers Grove officers for bringing the pursuit to an end before anyone was hurt. Hinsdale Police Chief Brian King also highlighted the role of an "alert Hinsdale patrol officer" who first noticed the vehicle, as noted by Patch.
DuPage prosecutors have recently pushed for detention in high-risk pursuit cases, a trend reflected in a previous roundup of similar DuPage chases that ended with serious charges and large seizures.
