Pre-trial release denied for men who robbed liquor store and led police on high-speed chase

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. – A judge has granted the state’s motion to deny pre-trial release for two Chicago men accused of burglarizing a liquor store in Elmhurst and leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car.

DuPage County officials said 19-year-old Michael Harris and 22-year-old Antwan Ford are charged with one count of burglary, one count of criminal damage to government supported property and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding.

Harris has also been charged with an additional count of aggravated fleeing and eluding, as well as one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle and multiple misdemeanors, including leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, driving on the wrong side of the road and no valid driver’s license.

Officials said just after 4:45 a.m. Thursday, police officers in Elmhurst were patrolling the area of Corner Cottage Liquors, located in the 500 block of West North Avenue, and saw a red Alfa Romeo Stelvio and White Dodge Challenger in the front parking stall of the liquor store. The vehicles’ trunks were open and three people wearing black face masks and hoodies were standing outside the vehicles.

When officers approached, the suspects got into both vehicles and drove off.

Officers were unable to follow the Challenger and began following the Alfa Romeo, allegedly driven by Harris with Ford as a passenger, onto North Avenue. During the pursuit, the officers’ vehicle reportedly got in front of the Alfa Romeo, causing the Alfa Romeo to rear end the officers’ car.

The Alfa Romeo then drove into oncoming traffic. Officers continued following the vehicle onto I-290, where Harris reportedly reached speeds of 115 mph, according to investigators.

Officers then terminated their pursuit due to safety concerns, but neighboring police agencies were alerted and an officer from Oak Brook was able to get behind the fleeing vehicle to deploy a GPS tracking dart, which shoots out of the front of a squad car’s bumper.

With help from the Oak Brook and Oak Park Police Departments, officers tracked the Alf Romeo to the area of Adams Boulevard and Austin Boulevard in Oak Park where the vehicle became disabled.

Investigators said officers with the Oak Park Police Department arrived and saw two people get out of the vehicle and run off. Both suspects were later taken into custody and identified as Harris and Ford.

Officers also found a backpack containing a loaded Glock 26 Gen 5 handgun near where Harris was taken into custody. Further investigation revealed the suspects seen outside Corner Cottage Liquors smashed the glass door, stole eight cartons of cigarettes and the cash drawer, which had about $100 in cash inside. The Alfa Romeo was also reported stolen out of Chicago on Sunday, according to officials.

Both Harris and Ford are scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 4.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.