April 26--A North Aurora man whom a police report describes as a "well known cab hustler" led officers on a dangerous high-speed chase Friday morning after he was caught allegedly soliciting passengers illegally at O'Hare International Airport.
Mohamed Benaissa, 45, faces criminal trespassing, illegal solicitation of passengers, aggravated fleeing and other charges. On Saturday, Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas set his bail at $10,000.
Friday about 7:25 a.m., Benaissa solicited an undercover police officer at O'Hare Terminal 5 for a "ride-for-hire" in his green 2006 Chrysler Town and Country van, according to court documents. Benaissa had been arrested before by the same officer and was warned "not to return without valid and legal purpose."
After soliciting the undercover officer, Benaissa recognized him and then drove away, according to court records. A police officer followed him with his siren on and lights flashing as he tried to pull over Benaissa at Mannheim Road and Lawrence Avenue.
But Benaissa continued driving south through a construction area, before eventually pulling into the left turn lane at Irving Park Road behind other vehicles, court records show.
When the officer pulled behind Benaissa and got out of his patrol car, Benaissa hit the gas, speeding around the other cars, over a center median and into oncoming traffic before turning east on Irving Park, "disregarding the safety of everyone in the area," according to court records.
Benaissa then turned onto Interstate 290, "cut across heavy traffic" to the left shoulder and "drove at a high rate of speed" as he passed other cars, according to court records. Having already identified him, the police did not continue their pursuit.
Officers later found Benaissa's destroyed license plate at home where he once lived, then determined his new license plate number, which was used to locate him later back at O'Hare, where he was arrested about 8:15 p.m. Friday.
After being taken into custody, Benaissa, of the 2000 block of Westover Road in North Aurora, told police that he didn't stop because he did nothing wrong, according to documents.
He's due back in court Friday.
gtrotter@tribpub.com
Twitter @NorthShoreTrib
