DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert
Berlin, Wood Dale Chief of Police Greg Vesta and Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly announced today that
bond has been set for a Des Plaines man accused of multiple weapons and drug
charges following a high-speed pursuit last Thursday night. Nicholas Valentino,
33 (d.o.b. 11/17/1987) of the 8000 block of N. Western Avenue, appeared at a
bond hearing this morning where Judge James Orel set bond at $5 million full
cash. Judge Orel also granted the State’s motion for a proof-of-funds hearing
for Valentino which will require Valentino to prove that any funds used to post
bond was not gotten from illegal means, should he make bond. Valentino has been
charged with one count of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to
Deliver (Class X Felony), one count of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled
Substance with Intent to Deliver (Class X Felony), two counts of Armed Violence
(Class X Felony) two counts of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm (Class 1
Felony) and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4 Felony).
During the evening of May 27, 2021, Officers
with the DuPage County Metropolitan Enforcement Group (DuMeg) were conducting surveillance
at a warehouse suspected in drug activity in Wood Dale. While conducting surveillance agents observed
a van and a Volkswagen leave the warehouse. It is alleged that Valentino was
driving the Volkswagen. Agents continued surveillance on the vehicles into the
city of Chicago before terminating surveillance. As the agents returned from
Chicago, agents again saw the van and began surveillance. Agents attempted to
stop the van but it did not stop. Agents continued to follow the van. While on
a residential street in Wood Dale, the van flashed its headlights and then came
to an abrupt stop at which time agents observed an individual, later identified
as Valentino, on the street allegedly pointing a gun at them. It is alleged
that Valentino fired two shots at the agents’ car. The agents reversed their car
and were not hit by the gunfire. It is alleged that after firing at the agents,
Valentino entered the same Volkswagen the agents conducted surveillance on
earlier and fled the scene at a high rate of speed along with the van. It is
alleged that prior to the shooting, the Volkswagen had stopped to set up an
ambush of the Agents. Agents began pursuit of the two vehicles through
residential areas of Wood Dale and eventually onto Route 83 where the two
vehicles went in separate directions. Agents followed the Volkswagen. A short
time later, the Volkswagen was involved in a vehicle crash with a Bensenville
squad car and an unmarked DuMeg squad car.
It is alleged that Valentino was the driver and only occupant of the
Volkswagen. He was taken into custody at this time. It is alleged that in the
center console of the Volkswagen officers located a full magazine for an AR-15
assault rifle and two cell phones. Officers with the Wood Dale Police
Department processed the scene of the shooting and recovered two discharged
.223 caliber assault rifle shell casings as well as one live .223 round, the same
type of ammunition allegedly recovered from the magazine in the Volkswagen
driven by the Valentino. After the
pursuit an AR-15 style assault rifle with no magazine and one round jammed in
the chamber was found in Bensenville on a residential street allegedly along
Valentino’s path of travel. The following day, a search warrant was executed at
the Wood Dale warehouse where authorities allegedly found approximately forty
pallets of vacuum-sealed cannabis totaling approximately 7,688 pounds, approximately
406 pounds of cannabis edibles, 6,891 THC cartridges and more than 700 grams psilocybin mushroom bars. The estimated
street value of the cannabis recovered in the warehouse is approximately
$22,000,000. Authorities also recovered more than $107,000, an AK-47 and 9 mm
ammunition.
“The
allegations against Mr. Valentino are completely outrageous,” Berlin said. “While
recreational marijuana is legal in Illinois, the allegations that Mr. Valentino
was in possession of such large quantities of marijuana underscores the fact that
there is a thriving illegal black market that demands the attention of law
enforcement. I cannot say enough about the efforts of the DuMeg agents involved
in the apprehension of Mr. Valentino. With a watchful eye, they were able to
pick up surveillance on a vehicle they had followed earlier that day and even after
allegedly being shot at by the defendant, they continued pursuit which resulted
in the apprehension of the defendant. This case is another reminder of the
extreme danger officers face day in and day out as they protect the public. I commend
those agents for their courage and dedication to their profession. I would like
to thank the Illinois State Police as well as the Wood Dale Police and Bensenville
Police Departments for their outstanding efforts that led to the apprehension
of the defendant in this case. I would also like to thank Assistant State’ Attorneys
Demetri Demopoulos and Matthew Dambach for their efforts the past several day
in preparing a strong case against Mr. Valentino.”
“The Illinois State Police is proud of the cooperative
efforts of all our partners in law enforcement as they worked this case,” ISP
Director Brendan F. Kelly said. “The importance of these partnerships through
DuMEG and similar units across the state, along with the exemplary work of the
men and women in the ISP, cannot be overstated as they take violent drug
dealers off of our streets.”
"Thankfully, the agents and residents of our community
were not injured during this encounter. I commend the officers involved
for their dedication to apprehend the offender despite the immediate danger to
themselves,” Vesta said. “I am grateful for the tireless efforts of our
officers and the success of our partnerships with other agencies and the
State’s Attorney’s office to bring this case to prosecution.”
Valentino’s next court date is
scheduled for June 28, 2021 for arraignment in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren
Walsh.
Members
of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not
proof of the defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are
entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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