Man gets DUI after police pursuit on bikes
By Rick Kambic, Pioneer Local, August 27, 2014
Two police officers on bicycles were very persistent in catching a man who was believed to be driving under the influence of alcohol in a Vernon Hills subdivision.
Miguel A. Mercado, 47, of 715 Court of Spruce #4, Vernon Hills, was charged Aug. 7 with driving under the influence, reckless driving, fleeing and eluding police, and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.
Around 12:30 a.m. that day officers said they saw a car with no headlights turning from Court of Spruce onto northbound Lakeside Drive and then driving at a high rate of speed.
One of the officers turned on an emergency light attached to the bicycle, but the car did not stop, and instead turned onto Cherry Valley Road, police said.
Police were able to get a partial license plate number before the car drove out of sight.
The same car, still with no headlights on, was again seen a short time later, according to police, as it turned onto Lakeside Drive from Westmoreland Drive. Both officers turned on the lights on their bicycles and attempted to stop the car, but without success, police said.
Police encountered the vehicle for a third time a little later, when the driver apparently faced off with the officers.
Police say the car was seen pulling into a parking lot on Court of Spruce from Lakeside Drive. While emergency lights were on, the driver drove away from one officer and was driving directly at the other when the driver swerved out of the way and exited the parking lot.
Police say they were able to get a full license plate number during the third incident, and the numbers matched what was seen earlier. Officers then went to Mercado’s home, which was nearby, determined he had been driving under the influence and arrested him, police said.
Mercado is scheduled in court Sept. 10.