City of Wheaton, IL
Court Grant’s Motion to Detain Man Charged with Hijacking Vehicle at Gunpoint
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Wheaton Chief of Police P.J. Youker announced today that Judge Louis Aranda has granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Chicago man accused of carjacking a man at gunpoint and then leading police on a high-speed chase. Andrew Strong, 25 (d.o.b. 5/15/2001), of the 100 block of N. Laramie Avenue, appeared in First Appearance Court this morning charged with one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking (Class X Felony), one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3 Felony) and one count of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (Class 4 Felony).
On July 24, 2026, at approximately 12:53 a.m., Wheaton police officers responded to a call of an aggravated vehicle hijacking in the 1000 block of E. Willow Avenue that had allegedly just occurred. Following an investigation into the matter, it is alleged that at approximately 12:45 a.m., the victim had just pulled into his driveway when he heard a knock on his car window and observed an individual, wearing a black ski mask and a black zip-up hoodie, holding a black handgun. It is alleged that the individual told the victim to “get out of the car, get out of the car,” and after the victim complied, the individual told the victim to “get on the ground and don’t do anything stupid.”
It is alleged that a second individual, also wearing a ski mask and dark clothing, entered victim’s vehicle, a black 2020 Acura MDX, and pulled it out of the driveway. It is further alleged that the individual then got into a grey Nissan Sentra that both individuals arrived in.
A short time later, an officer with the Glen Ellyn Police Department allegedly observed the Acura and Nissan traveling eastbound on Roosevelt Road from Sunset Avenue, at which time he activated his emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicles. It is alleged that both vehicles accelerated away from the officer and reached speeds of approximately 100 mph on Roosevelt Road, where the posted speed limit is 35 mph. The pursuit ended when the Nissan crashed on a curb after being spike-stripped, at which time two occupants fled the vehicle on foot.
With the assistance of an Illinois State Police plane, both suspects were observed running along the tracks east of 2000 Beach Street and into a nearby residential neighborhood, where DuPage County sheriff’s deputies apprehended the driver of the Nissan, later identified as Strong. Inside the Nissan, authorities found a black Springfield handgun on the passenger seat.
“Judge Aranda’s decision to deny pre-trial release for Mr. Strong sends a crystal-clear message that in DuPage County, we will not tolerate violent criminal activity, as alleged in this case,” Berlin said. “Additionally, the quick apprehension of the defendant demonstrates our commitment to public safety and the fact that we will use every tool at our disposal, including air support, to apprehend those who engage in the type of behavior alleged in this case. Thankfully, no one was physically injured as a result of Mr. Strong’s alleged actions.
“I thank the Wheaton Police Department for their efforts in this case as well as the Glen Ellyn Police Department, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick’s Office, the Illinois State Police and other assisting agencies for their assistance. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Daniel Orescanin and Kelsey Kerr for their efforts in securing charges against Mr. Strong.”
“An already convicted felon, Mr. Strong’s potential sentence could be measured in decades for his alleged crimes,” Chief Youker said. “He and his associates were not prepared for the strong law enforcement response of the Wheaton Police and our local, county and state law enforcement partners. The combined work of officers from the Glen Ellyn, Villa Park, Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Darien, Westchester and North Riverside Police Departments and DuPage County sheriff’s deputies, along with Illinois State Police plane pilots, ultimately resulted in the capture of Mr. Strong and the removal of another firearm from our community’s streets. A special thanks to State’s Attorney’s Robert Berlin’s Office, Wheaton Police Detective Kevin Freeman, and the Department’s Investigations Unit for their superb work thus far in this serious criminal investigation.”
Strong’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 24, 2026, in front of Judge Daniel Guerin. The investigation into the matter continues, and anyone with information is asked to call the Wheaton Police Department.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Andrew Strong