Man Driving Stolen Car Takes Cops on High-Speed Chase

An Aurora man driving a stolen car took on a dramatic chase that had him flying past stop signs at speeds 30 mph over the residential limit before finally crashing into a tree.

The pursuit began at about 3:20 a.m. Monday, when police answered a call about someone breaking into a vehicle at Waverly and Norley streets and spotted a man jumping into a car and speeding away, Cmdr. Rich Demick said.

The officers gave chase and ended up following the suspect, 18-year-old Justin R. Conley, as he drove through seven stop signs at speeds as high as 55 mph on streets marked for 25, Demick said. When Conley ended up turning down the block of 1100 Laurel -- a dead end -- he drove into a tree and attempted to flee on foot before being nabbed by police, he said.

Officers discovered the car he was driving, a 2006 Chevy Cobalt, was reported stolen on Sept. 9. They also found cannabis and burglary tools, including rubber gloves and a vise grip, inside the car, Demick said.

Conley was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude police, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of burglary tools, resisting/obstructing a peace officer and possession of cannabis: 2.5 grams or less.

He is being held in the Will County jail; his bond hearing is at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

According to jail records, Conley was arrested on warrants twice in August -- once by the Frankfort Police Department on Aug. 14 and again by the Will County Sheriff's Office on Aug. 30.

He was also arrested in 2011 on charges of aiding/abetting/possession of a stolen vehicle, disobeying a traffic control device and driving with an expired license, records show.

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