A 25-year-old Chicago man will remain in DuPage County Jail after a judge denied his pre-trial release in connection with an armed carjacking on a Wheaton residential street and a 100-mph police chase early Friday, July 24.

Judge Louis Aranda granted the state's motion to deny pre-trial release for Andrew Strong, of the 100 block of North Laramie Avenue in Chicago, on Monday, July 27, according to a DuPage County State's Attorney's Office news release. Strong faces one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding.

The carjacking

Around 12:45 a.m. Friday, July 24, a victim pulled into his driveway in the 1000 block of East Willow Avenue and heard a knock on his car window, the state's attorney's office said. He saw an individual wearing a black ski mask and a black zip-up hoodie holding a black handgun.

The masked individual ordered the victim out of the vehicle, then told him to get on the ground, according to the release. A second person, also masked and in dark clothing, entered the victim's black 2020 Acura MDX, pulled it out of the driveway, and then got into a grey Nissan Sentra in which both suspects had arrived.

100-mph chase on Roosevelt Road

Glen Ellyn police spotted both the stolen Acura and the Nissan heading eastbound on Roosevelt Road from Sunset Avenue and attempted a traffic stop, authorities said. Both vehicles sped away, reaching approximately 100 mph in a 35-mph zone.

The pursuit ended when officers deployed spike strips, causing the Nissan to crash on a curb. Two occupants fled on foot.

With assistance from an Illinois State Police plane, both suspects were seen running along railroad tracks east of 2000 Beach Street and into a nearby residential neighborhood. DuPage County sheriff's deputies arrested the Nissan's driver, later identified as Strong. A black Springfield handgun was recovered from the Nissan's passenger seat.

Prosecutor's response

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a July 27 statement that the ruling "sends a crystal-clear message that in DuPage County, we will not tolerate violent criminal activity, as alleged in this case."

Berlin added that no one was physically injured as a result of Strong's alleged actions.

What's next

Strong is being held at DuPage County Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 24.

The investigation into the second person who fled on foot continues, authorities said. Anyone with information is asked to call the Wheaton Police Department.