DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced on April 6 that four individuals arrested in separate incidents for aggravated fleeing and eluding police will be held without pre-trial release. The arrests, made by the Illinois State Police and local departments in Addison, West Chicago, and Westmont, reflect a growing concern over dangerous driving behaviors that put the public at risk.
The issue of fleeing from law enforcement has become more prominent in recent years. According to Berlin, “In 2025, DuPage County recorded a total of 409 Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer and Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer cases, a 159% increase in just five years.” He said the detention of all four defendants this week sends “a strong message that in DuPage County we do not tolerate this type of dangerous behavior that puts the public at great risk.”
The four individuals—Ivan Rankins of Willowbrook, Angelo Navarro of Addison, Carlos Barrera of West Chicago, and Dionna Curtis of Fairburn, Georgia—were each charged with at least one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding as well as other misdemeanor or petty offenses. The alleged incidents involved high-speed chases reaching up to 110 miles per hour and other hazardous actions such as driving into oncoming traffic or operating vehicles under the influence.
Berlin said law enforcement officers are using all available resources to address these incidents: “Our officers are extremely well trained and will aggressively, yet safely, use every tool at our disposal…to arrest and charge anyone who attempts to flee from police.” He also thanked multiple police departments for their ongoing efforts.
While these cases focus on criminal justice matters in DuPage County, education statistics provide additional context about the community. For example, the average student-to-teacher ratio was 13-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year, with over 142,000 students enrolled across county schools. Teacher absenteeism stood at 38.3%, higher than Illinois’ state average. Among local schools during that period: York Community High School had the highest enrollment of white students (1,844); Metea Valley High School led for multiracial students (162); Westmore Elementary School had ten Pacific Islander students; while Addison Trail High School enrolled the most Hispanic students (1,259).
Berlin concluded by reminding residents that “these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendants’ guilt,” adding that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
