[Weird file item #1] www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-cop-impersonatormay05,0,4046346.story
Teen in cop-impersonator case caught in a different role 15-year-old allegedly duped salesman and drove off in car By Angela Rozas and Carlos Sadovi Chicago Tribune reporters May 5, 2009 This time, it was a spiffy suit and tie that allegedly got the 15-year-old behind the wheel of a car. The Chicago boy was charged with stealing a used Lexus from a dealer Friday by pretending he was in the market to buy a car. The same boy allegedly fooled Chicago police officers earlier this year into believing he was one of their own and allowing him to drive a squad car on patrol. The Tribune isn't naming him because he's a juvenile. Wearing a suit and tie, the teen showed up Friday at the dealership in the 7200 block of South Western Avenue and inquired about a 1990 black Lexus four-door car. A salesman offered the teen a test drive, and the teen got into the vehicle. But the car's battery was dead so the salesman went to get a battery charger, said police spokesman Roderick Drew. After charging the battery, the salesman offered to go with the teen for a spin but told the teen he had to return the charger. When the salesman returned, the teen was gone, and the car was too, Drew said. For the next three hours, the teen, who doesn't have a license, allegedly drove the car around before raising the suspicion of two Chicago police officers when he cut them off in traffic. Deputy Supt. Daniel Dugan and a police officer were leaving a roll call and on their way to dinner when the teen allegedly swerved into their lane, police said. The officers noticed the vehicle did not have license plates and attempted to pull the teen over, police said. The teen did not stop but instead led police on a chase through a McDonald's parking lot and more traffic before he allegedly crashed the vehicle into a light pole, knocking it down, police said. The teen ran off near 95th and State Streets, at one point allegedly grabbing a stroller to pretend like he was part of the crowd, police said. It was not clear if the stroller was empty. The teen, believing he was no longer being followed, let go of the stroller and continued walking when Dugan grabbed him, police said. The teen struggled with the deputy superintendent before breaking free. Dugan sprained his ankle in the struggle, but his partner grabbed the teen a short time later and arrested him, police said. The teen appeared Monday in Juvenile Court, charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal trespassing, driving without a license, driving without insurance, leaving the scene of a crash and driving without registration. He was on electronic monitoring since February after being released from custody for allegedly impersonating a Chicago police officer a month earlier. Then 14, the teen allegedly drove a police vehicle with an officer and interacted with the public for five hours before a supervisor figured out he was not an officer. A family friend at the time said the teen was enamored with policework after being a part of the department's youth "Explorer" program. It was unclear Monday whether any officials had noticed he was not at home or school at the time of his latest alleged caper. The teen is expected in court for both the stolen vehicle case and officer impersonation case on May 28. The officers who arrested the teen didn't know he was the alleged cop impersonator until after he was taken into custody, police said. "Not all minor traffic stops are what they appear," Dugan said in a statement. -- ================================ George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 Mail: antunes at uh dot edu *********************************** * POST TO MEDIANEWS@ETSKYWARN.NET * *********************************** Medianews mailing list Medianews@etskywarn.net http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
