Elgin man faces DUI charge after crashing into pole

A 21-year-old man is charged with driving under the influence after fleeing from police in west suburban Elgin and crashing into a pole, prosecutors said.

Samuel Cortez allegedly drove away from police about 10:30 p.m. March 25 after they responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle in the 500 block of Airlite Street, the Kane County state’s attorney’s office said in a statement.

An officer later spotted the vehicle near West Chicago Street and Leonard Avenue, but Cortez drove off again, heading south of Jackson Street, prosecutors said.

While fleeing, Cortez crashed into a pole in the 300 block of Locust Street, prosecutors said. The officer found an open cup of suspected alcohol and an open liquor bottle in the back seat, prosecutors said.

Cortez was arrested and charged with two counts of felony aggravated DUI, and a misdemeanor count each of DUI, fleeing and eluding, and driving on a revoked license, prosecutors said.

He was released from custody after posting a $5,000 bail, prosecutors said.

Cortez is due back in court May 15.