3 Cook County residents detained after stealing SUV, fleeing police at 130 mph: officials
The Brief
Three Cook County residents, Xavier Carrasco, Matthew Perez, and Mariano Martinez, were detained after allegedly stealing a high-end SUV and leading police on a high-speed chase earlier this month. A fourth suspect, Jocelyn Gonzalez, was not detained.
The suspects face multiple charges, including possession of a stolen motor vehicle, theft, burglary, and aggravated fleeing and eluding, with additional charges for Perez related to unlawful use of weapons.
The chase, which reached speeds of up to 130 mph, involved multiple agencies, including a helicopter, and ended when the Jeep lost control. The suspects were apprehended after fleeing on foot.
DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. - Three Cook County residents are being detained after allegedly stealing a high-end SUV and leading police on a high-speed chase earlier this month.
A fourth individual involved in the incident was not detained.
What we know
Xavier Carrasco, 19; Matthew Perez, 24; and Mariano Martinez, 18, were ordered detained Saturday following a first appearance in court. The fourth person, 22-year-old Jocelyn Gonzalez, was not detained.
Carrasco and Martinez face charges that include:
One count of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 1 felony)
One count of theft – over $10,000 (Class 1 felony)
One count of burglary (Class 2 felony)
One count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony)
One count of aggravated fleeing and eluding (Class 4 felony)
Perez is charged with two counts of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle, two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (Class 4 felony) and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (Class 4 felony).
Gonzalez is charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding, according to DuPage County State's Attorney.
The backstory
The charges stem from an investigation by the Elmhurst Police Department into the theft of a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT valued at more than $53,000 on Feb. 11.
At 4:40 a.m., a black Cadillac SUV drove into the overhead service doors at the Al Piemonte Buick GMC dealership. A Chevrolet SS arrived shortly after, and Carrasco exited the vehicle and entered the dealership.
Carrasco retrieved keys for the Jeep and fled in the stolen vehicle, the state's attorney said. The Cadillac, also found to be stolen, had been reportedly taken by Martinez from My Choice Motors, located half a mile from the dealership.
A short time later, both vehicles went to a gas station in Berkeley and fled at a high rate of speed when a police officer arrived.
Pursuit Begins
On Feb. 20, a Lisle police officer patrolling near a car dealership spotted what appeared to be the stolen Jeep. The Jeep fled on Ogden Avenue and headed east on I-88, where a Villa Park officer pursued it at speeds reaching 130 mph.
Multiple agencies assisted in the chase, including a Chicago Police Department helicopter. The pursuit continued onto I-290, where the Jeep swerved around an Oak Brook officer, narrowly missing him, to avoid spike strips.
The Jeep lost control near the 17th Street exit due to losing the front passenger side tire, and all four suspects fled on foot.
According to the state's attorney, the four suspects jumped over the concrete median and fled across I-290 before being apprehended a short time later.
During the chase, Perez discarded a Glock 20 handgun, and Martinez was found with matching ammunition. Investigators said they also found a loaded AR rifle and a 9mm Hellcat stolen from Cicero inside the Jeep.
What they're saying
"The blatant disregard for the rule of law allegedly exhibited by these defendants is astonishing," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. "The successful apprehension of these four defendants sends a loud and clear message that in DuPage County, we will not tolerate the type of lawless, dangerous behavior as alleged in this case. We will use every tool available to us, including a helicopter and our partners in law enforcement to go after those who break the law and put the public at risk. We are all very thankful that no innocent bystanders or motorists were injured as a result of the defendants' alleged behavior. I thank the Villa Park Police Department for their outstanding police work that led to the apprehension of these four defendants. The apprehension of the defendants in this case was indeed a team effort and I want to recognize the Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Berkely, Maywood, Forest Park, Broadview and Lisle Police Departments as well as the Illinois State Police for their cooperation and assistance in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion. I especially thank the Chicago Police Department for air support that was instrumental in apprehending the defendants once the defendants allegedly fled their vehicle. I also thank Assistant State's Attorney's Kevin Kosman and Nicholas Covert for their efforts in securing strong charges against the defendants."
"The alleged actions of those subjects charged are truly disturbing," Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Rivas stated. "All four subjects showed a blatant disregard for public safety and for the properties of others. The public should be reminded to pull over for emergency lights and sirens. The public should also be reminded that all who commit violent crimes in our area will be met with all lawful resources available to put a stop to these criminal acts. I want to thank the brave men and women of the Villa Park Police Department for their tireless commitment to arresting all violent criminals who come through our area. Once the subjects were taken into custody it was truly a team effort for patrol, investigations, and our records department to process, investigate and care for the subjects while in our custody. The Villa Park Police Department is very successful at taking alleged violent offenders into custody. We do not act alone, and we are thankful to the police departments of Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Chicago and several Cook County Departments for the excellent coordination of tactics, communication, and investigations in this case. We would also like to thank DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin and his thorough team of Assistant State's Attorneys who worked so hard to charge the alleged offenders with the nineteen felonies."
What's next
Carrasco, Perez, and Martinez are scheduled to appear in court on March 7. Gonzalez's next court appearance is set for March 17.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Car that led police, troopers on chase ends up in ‘chop shop': Report
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Police and state troopers found a little more than they bargained for Monday night after a chase led them to other suspicious vehicles. Just before 11 p.m. Monday, the Youngstown Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol had officers out on patrol in the area of Boston and South Avenue when reports state a black BMW sped past them. Authorities attempted a traffic stop, but the BMW sped off at around 80 mph on South Avenue before turning onto Midlothian Avenue. Officers called off the road pursuit due to the unsafe conditions, but the OSHP continued to follow the BMW with its aviation unit. Reports state aviation tracked the car speeding around 112 mph on Shirley Road to Wilson Avenue, to Federal Street, before it turned onto Andrews Avenue and pulled into a business garage in the 1100 block of Andrews. Reports state the BMW nearly hit another vehicle in the area of South and Hilton Avenue, ran red lights and passed other cars during its attempt to flee. Officers surrounded the business and called for all occupants to come out, where they detained two men. Aviation units relayed to officers that one of the men, Derrian Thomas, was the driver of the BMW, and the other man was the passenger. Police arrested Thomas on a charge of failure to comply. When speaking to the other man, reports state he told police that he was the owner of the business at 1104 Andrews Avenue. OSHP troopers on the scene were then informed of a 'chop shop' located near Andrews Avenue in connection with other investigations, according to reports. Police say the owner gave them permission to enter his business to retrieve the BMW involved in the chase. When they went into the building, reports state officers smelled an 'overwhelming' odor of marijuana and observed a 'large quantity' of marijuana inside the truck of a Dodge Charger. Police also observed marijuana in a Chevrolet Sonic, which reports state was registered to the man. Also inside the garage was a Jeep 'riddled with bullet holes,' in which police found two firearms, reports state. When questioned about the large amount of marijuana inside his shop, the owner reportedly told police that someone had dropped off both the Jeep and Dodge for body work, but claimed he could not provide their name and 'had essentially no idea who they were,' according to reports. He also claimed to know nothing about the firearms or who they belonged to. Due to the marijuana and firearms, police had the Jeep and Dodge towed, as well as the BMW involved in the chase. Reports state the Jeep and Dodge were both registered to one person; however, court records do not reflect any charges against that individual at this time. Thomas is set to appear in Youngstown Municipal Court on the fleeing charge Wednesday afternoon. Court records do not show any charges against the owner of the business at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cranston trial day three — Prison inmate recalls alleged confession
It's day three of testimony in the trial of Shawn Cranston, the man accused of murdering Rebekah Byler, a pregnant Amish woman, in Sparta Township last year. Wednesday morning, jurors heard from a fellow prison inmate who testified Cranston confessed to killing Byler. According to that inmate, Cranston was surprised to find Byler in the home, and they 'surprised each other.' Cranston told the inmate, 'The lady started screaming, he spun her around and started choking her, she didn't pass out so he slit her throat. He said she didn't die quick enough, so he shot her.' Jurors also heard from a state police latent print examiner, who testified a pair of shoes taken from Cranston's house four days after Byler's murder, are a 'possible source' of the shoe impressions taken from the murder scene and previous burglaries in the area, along with two of the tires found on Cranston's Jeep. Cranston is facing charges of criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary and criminal trespass. Jennifer Mobilia is in court and will have full coverage of Wednesday's testimony during the evening news. Related Stories: Day two of testimony underway for Shawn Cranston murder trial Trial begins for man accused of murdering pregnant Amish woman Trial for man accused of killing pregnant Amish woman pushed to 2025 2024 Amish murder case transferred to Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office New information takes center stage in Rebekah Byler murder trial Daughter of arrested suspect reacts to pregnant Amish woman murder case List of seized items released in pregnant Amish woman homicide case Murdered Amish woman suffered injuries to head, neck: investigators Community remains in shock following Amish woman's death, Corry man's arrest Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man steals Grand Prairie police SUV after chase, 2 arrested
The Brief Grand Prairie police arrested two men after a police chase on I-20 early Wednesday morning. One of the suspects managed to steal a police SUV and led officers on a second chase. That second chase ended in Oak Cliff when the suspect lost control and flipped the vehicle. GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - A man who was arrested after a high-speed chase in Grand Prairie was arrested again after stealing a police SUV and leading officers on a second chase overnight. What we know The first chase happened just after midnight Wednesday. Grand Prairie police tried to stop a Cadillac that was driving erratically and with no headlights on Interstate 20. Two men who appeared to be in their 20s eventually ditched the car and ran away into a wooded area. They were located by helicopter and canine units. Both men were handcuffed and placed in different police vehicles. Police were waiting for paramedics to arrive because one of the suspects suffered a dog bite. That's when the injured suspect managed to get into the driver's seat of the police SUV and drive away. A second police chase ensued. It ended in Oak Cliff, where the suspect lost control and crashed. He was recaptured and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. What we don't know Police have not released the suspect's names or said what charges they're facing. However, they could face multiple felony charges. The Source FOX 4 photojournalist Terry Van Sickle gathered details for this story from police officers at the crime scene.