Court detains two Chicago men charged with high-speed police chases in DuPage County
The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office announced on Mar. 17 that the court has granted motions to deny pre-trial release for two Chicago men, Terrance Barber and Kalvin Johnson, each accused of fleeing police at high speeds in separate incidents.
The decision to detain both men highlights concerns about rising cases of individuals attempting to evade law enforcement in DuPage County. According to State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, such incidents have increased by 88% since 2022, from 218 to 409 cases.
Barber, age 38, was charged after allegedly fleeing Oak Brook police on March 2 when officers attempted a traffic stop related to a retail theft investigation. Police say Barber reached speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour before officers ended their pursuit for safety reasons. He was later identified and arrested on March 15 following an arrest warrant issued by Judge Jeffrey MacKay.
In a separate case, Johnson, age 36, was taken into custody after allegedly using bolt cutters to break into a work van in Naperville and then fleeing Elmhurst police early on March 16. Authorities allege Johnson drove at speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour before abandoning his vehicle and attempting to leave the scene in an Uber. Officers stopped the Uber and arrested him shortly after.
Berlin said, “Like so many before them, it is alleged that Mr. Barber and Mr. Johnson tried to outrun the law. Thanks to the work of the Oak Brook and Elmhurst Police Departments, both men were apprehended and taken into custody, where they will remain awaiting their trial.” He added that law enforcement is committed to ending this threat to public safety: “We will pursue you and use every tool at our disposal...to see to it that anyone engaged in this type of behavior is identified, arrested and charged.”
Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean said, “Our detectives relentlessly investigated recent vehicle burglaries affecting several area communities...Thanks to the coordinated efforts and professionalism of our detectives and assisting officers, the defendant was safely taken into custody.” Oak Brook Chief Brian Strockis said those who attempt to flee law enforcement "will be held accountable." Both praised cooperation among agencies involved.
Barber’s next court appearance is set for April 6 before Judge Mia McPherson; Johnson’s is scheduled for April 13 before Judge Brian Telander. The State’s Attorney reminded the public that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
DuPage County also faces other challenges related to its community institutions. The average student-to-teacher ratio in county schools during the 2022-23 school year was thirteen-to-one with over 142,000 students enrolled across more than ten thousand full-time faculty members according to state education data. Teacher absenteeism rates stood at nearly thirty-eight percent—higher than Illinois’ average as reported by state sources.
Among local schools, York Community High School had the highest enrollment of white students with over eighteen hundred students according to state records, while Metea Valley High School led in multiracial student enrollment as noted by state data. Westmore Elementary School recorded the highest number of Pacific Islander students among county schools according to official figures, while Addison Trail High School had the largest Hispanic student population based on state information.
These developments reflect ongoing efforts by local authorities not only in law enforcement but also within educational institutions as they address changing trends across DuPage County.