Man in cast doesn’t get far trying to run from traffic crash

A Chicago man in a leg cast was arrested Friday night in west suburban Riverside shortly after running away from police after a traffic crash.

Giovanni Castrejon, 23, was not wearing a seatbelt and had illegally changed lanes without signaling when he was pulled over by police at 6:38 p.m. on Ogden Avenue between Harlem and Lionel Roads, according to Riverside police.

Castrejon pulled the 2007 Audi utility vehicle he was driving over to the curb on Ogden Avenue near Gage Road, police said. But when the officer got out of his car, Castrejon drove away westbound on Ogden to Amelia Avenue then southbound.

He blew two stop signs while speeding westbound at 70 mph in a 30 mph zone before the SUV hit two vehicles at 43^rd Street in west suburban Lyons. No injuries were reported but there was heavy damage to all vehicles involved.

When the officer arrived at the scene of the crash, Castrejon had run away. But he was in a leg cast and “had a difficult time running between yards,” police said.

A witness from a nearby home directed the officer in Castrejon’s direction and he was found in a yard and arrested near at 44^th Street, according to police.

Castrejon was in a leg cast because he had been shot several times in a drug-related incident in Chicago several weeks earlier, police said.

Officers requested a K-9 search of Castrejon’s vehicle where police recovered two pounds of cannabis packaged for delivery, nearly $20,000 in cash, marijuana packaging materials, scales and several drop phones, police said.

Before returning to custody, Castrejon was taken to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn to have his gunshot wound evaluated. He did not suffer any injuries from the crash and was released to Riverside police late Saturday night.

Castrejon has been charged with felony counts of manufacture and delivery of cannabis, possession of cannabis, and aggravated fleeing and eluding police; and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalis, police said. He was also issued several citations for disobeying stop signs and speeding.

Castrejon provided a full written statement that he fled from police because of his large cannabis possession and fear of being arrested while on parole, police said. Police ecovered about $700 in cash from his pockets.

Castrejon’s criminal history consists of 30 prior arrests, including weapon charges, assault charges, criminal sexual assault, a DUI arrest in 2013, and driving without a valid driver’s license since 2009, police said. He is a self-admitted gang member who is on parole for a domestic battery and weapons arrest, according to police.

Riverside Police have asked Cook County State’s Attorney to revoke Castrejon’s license based on his new felony charges.