Two Chicago men were charged after Oak Brook police were led on a high-speed chase April 8. Their next scheduled court date is May 4.
Lorenzo Bell, 20, of the 8100 block of Evans Avenue, was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, one class 2 felony and one class 4 felony. Bell’s co-defendant, Jahiem Russell, 22, of the 400 block of East 89th Place, was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a stolen license plate, a class 2 felony, and two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding, class 4 felonies, according to information from the office of DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin.
An Oak Brook police officer reportedly pulled up behind a blue Nissan on Ring Road at Oak Brook Center, near Harger Road, at 3:50 p.m. April 8. The Nissan reportedly immediately sped away and ran a stop sign at Harger Road. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and gave chase, according to information from Berlin’s office.
While in pursuit, the vehicle, which police said was driven by Russell, reportedly ignored multiple stop signs and eventually made its way to eastbound 22nd Street, reaching speeds of 63 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone amid heavy traffic, police said.
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Russell reportedly weaved in and out of traffic driving onto Interstate 88 westbound to southbound Route 83 and back onto I-88 eastbound, where he reached speeds of approximately 85 m.p.h., Berlin’s office reported.
Russell reportedly continued weaving in and out of heavy traffic and traveled on the shoulder to Interstate 294 southbound. He reportedly continued on I-294 southbound to the westbound Ogden Avenue ramp, where he struck road barrels and then reversed into an Oak Brook police squad car.
The suspect vehicle reportedly became disabled, at which time Russell and Bell fled on foot, before being quickly apprehended by law enforcement officers, police said.
When searching the Nissan, officers reportedly found a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun with one bullet in the chamber and 12 rounds in the magazine on the front passenger floorboard where Bell had been seated, they said.
Following further investigation, officers learned that the license plate affixed to the Nissan was reported stolen on April 7.
“The allegations that Mr. Russell fled from police at a high rate of speed in the middle of the afternoon near the Oak Brook Mall, while his co-defendant, Lorenzo Bell, a convicted felon currently on probation for unlawful possession of a weapon, was illegally in possession of a loaded gun, are beyond disturbing,” Berlin said in a statement.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.