CREDIT: Google Maps

A 28-year-old Elgin man was arrested on multiple charges including heroin possession and aggravated fleeing a police officer after his vehicle crashed Wednesday afternoon on the east side of IL Route 25 in front of Santa’s Village.

According to a press release from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, a Kane Count sheriff’s deputy was in the area of Route 25 and Interstate 90 watching traffic in a construction zone at around 2:45 p.m., when he observed a subject — later identified as Elijah Pittman, 28, of Elgin — driving a Silver Pontiac north on Route 25 and talking on his cell phone.

The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, and it entered the parking lot of the Milk Pail restaurant, 14N630 Route 25, Elgin, stopped, then sped up in the parking lot. “The driver threw something out of the vehicle, and eventually drove back onto Route 25,” the press release said.

The deputy began to pursue the vehicle, but as it reached a speed in excess of 85 mph, the deputy terminated the pursuit.

The deputy continued to travel north on Route 25 toward Route 72 and saw what appeared to be the driver running on the east side of Route 25 and that the vehicle had crashed on the east side of Route 25 in front of Santa’s Village, the press release said. The address of Santa’s Village Azoosment Park, is listed as 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee, south of the intersection of Higgins Road (IL Route 72) and Dundee Avenue (IL Route 25).

The vehicle had rolled over and had started on fire.

After determining that no one else was in the car, the deputy then began to look for the subject who was running. Several citizens pointed out where the subject was and the deputy was able to take the subject into custody without incident, the press release said. An ambulance was called to the scene, and the subject was treated and released.

After the subject was taken into custody, a search of the Milk Pail parking lot was conducted, and deputies were able to locate the item that was thrown out of the car. It was determined that the item was approximately 5 grams of a substance that field tested positive for the presence of heroin.

The subject was transported to the Kane County Adult Justice Center.

After a review of the facts, the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office authorized the following criminal charges against the subject:

• Aggravated Fleeing of a Police Officer exceeding 21 MPH over the posted speed limit
• Aggravated Fleeing of a Police Officer where property damage over $300 resulted
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Resisting or obstructing a police officer
• DUI drugs
• Driving on a suspended driver’s license

The following traffic citations were also issued

• 2 counts of failure to signal when required
• Driving while on an electric device (phone)
• Speeding
• Leaving the scene of a property damage accident
• Failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident
• Driving in the wrong lane
• Operation of an uninsured motor vehicle

Pittman also had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on an assault charge.

The charges against Pittman are not proof of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

SOURCE: Kane County Sheriff’s Office press release

Elijah Pittman, 28, of Elgin. CREDIT: Kane County Sheriff’s Office press release