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Crime & Safety

Police Smash Windows to Yank Man Out of Car after Wild Ride

Hazel Crest man charged with 10 offenses, including DUI, resisting arrest and reckless driving, after wreaking havoc with car.

An intoxicated Hazel Crest man who struck a car, drove on the wrong side of the street and refused to shut off his engine was dragged out of his car at the conclusion of one wild ride, police said.

Charles E. Colston, 56, of the 17100 block of Longfellow Avenue, was arrested and charged with 10 offenses, including driving under the influence, resisting arrest and reckless driving.

Police said they tried to stop Colston's car on April 8 around 11:30 p.m. near 151st Street and La Grange Road after receiving six 911 complaints about someone striking another car and a sign in the median lane.

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By the time police caught up with him, Colston was reportedly driving north in the southbound La Grange Road lanes with two flat tires. He would soon have two broken windows.

Colston came to a stop but drove off as soon as officers approached his car on foot, police said. They eventually got ahead of him and tried blocking his car. He stopped but refused to get out or shut off the engine, police said.

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Batons were used to break the driver and passenger side windows and unlock the doors. In the process of dragging Colston out of the car, officers reportedly received lacerations on their hands. One officer sustained glass shards in his thumb. Both men were treated at l.

Police said Colston struggled throughout his arrest and kept shouting, “Why are you doing this to me?”

In total, Colston was charged with DUI, resisting arrest, reckless driving, attempting to elude police, failure to give aid, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to reduce speed to avoid accident, improper lane usage, driving in the wrong lane and disobeying a police officer.

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