Man Who Hit Wheaton Home Faces Multiple Charges

A 22-year-old Villa Park man faces multiple charges after he drove his pickup truck into a Wheaton garage and displaced a family, police said.

Police on Aug. 4 charged Michael D. Kohs, 22, of the first block of South Summit Avenue, Villa Park, with the following: 

• Hit and run
• Driving under the influence of alcohol 
• Aggravated assault on a police officer
• Resisting an officer 

Wheaton police at 3:50 a.m. received a report of a vehicle striking another vehicle on the 400 block of South Beverly Avenue, according to a police report.

"The homeowner awoke to find a Chevy Silverado had crashed through the west side of this garage with the male driver trying to drive the vehicle out of the garage," Wheaton Police Chief Mark Field said in an e-mail.

The driver, Kohs, fled barefoot westbound on Childs Street, which is just north of the home. Police set up a perimeter and found him about 25 minutes later in the area of Roosevelt Road and Fapp Circle less than a half-mile away.

Kohs verbally and actively resisted police officers while being taken into custody, the report said. 

"It Could Have Been Awful"

The home was rendered inhabitable by Building and Code at the time of the crash, police said. The family is living with other family members until repairs are completed. They thanked neighbors and residents for their well wishes in an online message.

"I was able to connect with the neighbors to ensure they were OK," Lisa Jackson said in an e-mail. "They have little kids — it could have been awful."

Jackson was driving past her old house Aug. 4 on the way to church when she saw the damaged home. She recently sold a home on the 400 block of South Hazelton Avenue, which runs parallel and directly west of Beverly where the damaged home is located. 

Kohs was driving eastbound when he apparently drove onto lawns and hit the garage, according to reader accounts and Jackson's pictures on this page. Police and other first responders remained at the scene for a few hours following the crash.

Kohs was also ticketed for improper lane usage and improper backing. He was booked and released from the Wheaton Police Department at 7:10 a.m. Aug. 4.

The case for this incident is still being processed, according to the report.

See also:

• Search For Missing Man Comes Up Short, Sister Seeks Justice
• DUI Alcohol, Drug Arrests: Police Blotter
• Male Stranger Approaches Teen Girl Near Wheaton: Sheriff
• DuPage Man Charged in Heroin Death of Teen
• UPDATE: DuPage Man Charged in Murder-for-Hire Scheme

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