Second of 2 Suspects from Cook County Denied Bond in DuPage County Today
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Rivas announced today, Friday, January 27, 2023, that bond has been denied for a Cook County resident charged with Armed Habitual Criminal, among other offenses. Michael Ducksworth, age 35, of the 15000 block of Myrtle Street, Harvey, appeared at a bond hearing this afternoon in front of Judge Joshua Dieden who granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Ducksworth, who is presently on parole for a 2020 Unlawful Use of a Weapon conviction out of Cook County, has been charged with one count of Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony), one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon While on Parole (Class 2 Felony), one count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 2 Felony) one count of Illegal Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony) and multiple Misdemeanor traffic offenses including Fleeing or Eluding a Police Officer.
On Thursday, January 26, 2023, at approximately 11:30 p.m., an officer with the Villa Park Police Department ran the license plate of a suspicious vehicle, a 2020 Nissan Kicks SV, to find that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Harvey the previous day. Once backup arrived, the officer activated his emergency lights and sirens and attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the Nissan did not stop. Following an approximately eight-minute-long, two-mile pursuit, the vehicle came to a stop in Oakbrook Terrace. It is alleged that once the vehicle came to a stop, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Ducksworth, fled the vehicle on foot. It is alleged that as he fled, Ducksworth was in possession of a firearm and that he ignored officers’ commands to drop the weapon. Officers were able to catch Ducksworth and tackle him to the ground at which time Ducksworth allegedly fell on top of the weapon and continued to resist officers. It is alleged that once officers eventually restrained Duckworth, he was in possession of a Taurus 380 handgun with five bullets in the magazine as well as two 8-balls of cocaine (approximately seven grams total).
“For the second time today, a DuPage County judge denied bond for a defendant accused of committing serious crimes. The quick apprehension and subsequent denial of bond sends the message that law enforcement in DuPage County takes violent crimes very seriously and the consequences of being caught here with an illegal, dangerous firearm will be swift and significant. I once again commend the Villa Park Police Department for their efforts not only on this case but for their continued commitment to public safety. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Sara Henley and Alyssa Rabulinski for their efforts in securing strong charges against the defendant.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin
“Felons in stolen vehicles will only lead to more violent crime in our respective communities. This is a pattern law enforcement agencies in DuPage have experienced. Once a stolen vehicle is located, the Villa Park Police Department will go to great lengths to stop that vehicle and bring the occupants of a stolen vehicle to justice. In this case, the Villa Park officers and detectives acted swiftly and effectively to take the alleged armed suspect off the streets. We thank the Oak Brook Terrace and Elmhurst Police Departments as well as the Chicago Police Department helicopter and other surrounding agencies for their assistance in the low-speed pursuit and apprehension of the alleged offender. We also thank DuPage State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Assistant State’s Attorneys Sara Henley and Alyssa Rabulinski for their tireless assistance in bringing about these serious charges.”
— Villa Park Chief of Police Michael Rivas
Ducksworth’s next court appearance is scheduled for February 21, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge O’Hallaren Walsh.
Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are 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 their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The other suspect with bond denied was a Cook County resident charged with firing a machine gun in Villa Park.
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