Police Chase Ends in Elmhurst with Capture of Suspected Robbers

A police chase that was initiated after a strong-arm robbery in Villa Park ended in Elmhurst with the capture of two suspects Friday afternoon, Villa Park and Elmhurst police said.

At about 1:47 p.m. Friday, Villa Park police got a call for a strong-arm robbery at a scrap metal business on the 800 block of North Ellsworth, Villa Park Sgt. Dan McCann said.

Two subjects, Donald Petracek, 36, of Villa Park, and Genesis Peterson, 24, of Chicago, allegedly arrived at the business in a silver Ford van and went inside. Petracek allegedly shoved a clerk back into her seat, reached into a drawer and grabbed handfuls of cash in the amount of about $1,800. As they left the lot, a witness began following them and called 911.

An Oakbrook Terrace police officer heard the dispatch and saw the van traveling on Route 83 into Oakbrook Terrace, and a chase was initiated, McCann said.

They traveled eastbound on Butterfield into Elmhurst, where Elmhurst and Oakbrook Terrace police attempted to stop them at Butterfield and Commonwealth. The van eventually crashed into a parked vehicle near Parkside, and the two suspects fled on foot into the neighborhood, McCann said.

Elmhurst Police Chief Michael Ruth said that as the two were running through the neighborhood, they were "tearing off their jackets and leaving a trail of money."

"The proceeds from the robbery were recovered," Ruth said. "U.S. currency was located inside the suspects' vehicle," in addition to the money they were discarding in an attempt to elude police.

They were captured about four or five houses north of Butterfield on Parkside, Ruth said.

"One was captured by an Oakbrook Terrace officer and the other suspect was captured by an Elmhurst police officer," Ruth said, adding that no one was injured during the chase or capture. "We turned them over to Villa Park at the scene."

Both suspects have been charged with robbery, a Class 2 Felony, McCann said.

Charges for aggravated fleeing and eluding police and possession of a controlled substance are pending, McCann said.

"There also was an amount of drugs in the vehicle, as well," he said.

Both suspects were taken to DuPage County Jail.

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