Court Grants State's Motion to Detain Pair Charged with Multiple Vehicular Hijackings in Hanover Park and Itasca

Alicia Merlin-Barrera, 24 (d.o.b. 11/26/1999, pictured left) of the 400 block of Palatine Road andRicardo Ortega, 26 (d.o.b. 1/30/1997, pictured right) of the 5600 block of Pebblebeach Drive, appeared in First Appearance Court this morning each charged with two counts of Vehicular Hijacking (Class 1 Felony), one count of Aggravated Unlawful Restraint (Class 3 Felony), one count of Aggravated Reckless Driving Causing Great Bodily Harm or Disfigurement (Class 4 Felony) and multiple Misdemeanors including Criminal Damage to Property and Battery.

“THE BRAZEN, LAWLESS CRIME SPREE ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED BY THESE TWO DEFENDANTS IS ASTONISHING,” BERLIN SAID. “WHAT I FIND PARTICULARLY DISTURBING HOWEVER, IS THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, GOOD SAMARITANS WHO STOPPED TO HELP WERE ALLEGEDLY VICTIMIZED BY ORTEGA AND MERLIN-BARRERA AS WELL. VIOLENT CRIMES, SUCH AS ALLEGED IN THIS CASE, HAVE NO PLACE IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN DUPAGE COUNTY.”

HANOVER PARK - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Hanover Park Chief of Police Andrew Johnson announced today that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to detain pre-trial a Hanover Park man and a Palatine woman charged with carjacking and crashing multiple vehicles in Hanover Park and Itasca. Ricardo Ortega, 26 (d.o.b. 1/30/1997) of the 5600 block of Pebblebeach Drive and Alicia Merlin-Barrera, 24 (d.o.b. 11/26/1999) of the 400 block of Palatine Road, appeared in First Appearance Court this morning each charged with two counts of Vehicular Hijacking (Class 1 Felony), one count of Aggravated Unlawful Restraint (Class 3 Felony), one count of Aggravated Reckless Driving Causing Great Bodily Harm or Disfigurement (Class 4 Felony) and multiple Misdemeanors including Criminal Damage to Property and Battery.

On January 6, 2024, at approximately 11:58 a.m., the Hanover Park Police Department received a call regarding a crash of a hijacked vehicle at Arlington Drive and County Farm Road. After speaking with the victim, it is alleged that the victim, a female, and another woman were in the victim’s car when they were approached by two individuals, later identified as Ortega and Merlin-Barrera, asking for a ride to a nearby train station. It is alleged that the victim agreed at which time the defendants entered her car, a Dodge Journey. It is alleged that as the women drove to the train station with the defendants in the back seat, Merlin-Barrera told the driver to stop and reached from the back seat for the car key, which she was able to get after a brief struggle with the driver. It is further alleged that at the same time, Ortega began hitting the other woman about her head and face. It is alleged that after the vehicle came to a stop at a stoplight, the driver exited the vehicle and one of the defendants got into the driver’s seat and drove away with the second victim still in the car. It is further alleged that a short distance down the road, the car struck a tree, ejecting the victim from the car causing several fractured ribs, bruises to her face, a broken finger and a fractured ankle. A passing motorist who witnessed the crash stopped his vehicle, a Chrysler Pacifica van, to help. It is alleged that when the driver of the van was helping the victim involved in the crash, both defendants entered the van, with Ortega in the driver’s seat, and drove away. It is alleged that after driving a few blocks, Ortega crashed the van into a pole, turned the van around and drove past the original crash at which time officers who were now on the scene observed the van drive by. It is alleged that the defendants entered I-390 eastbound and crashed the van near I-390. It is further alleged that when a passing motorist stopped to assist, Ortega and Merlin-Barrera carjacked his truck, a Toyota Tundra, and fled. On January 7, 2024, officers with the Hanover Park Police Department located the stolen Toyota in Forest Park. Officers with the Forest Park Police Department responded to the location and took both defendants into custody at this time.

“The brazen, lawless crime spree allegedly committed by these two defendants is astonishing,” Berlin said. “What I find particularly disturbing however, is that on two separate occasions, good Samaritans who stopped to help were allegedly victimized by Ortega and Merlin-Barrera as well. Violent crimes, such as alleged in this case, have no place in a civilized society and will not be tolerated in DuPage County. I applaud the Hanover Park Police Department for their truly outstanding work not only in identifying the defendants in this case, but for their efforts in locating the stolen Toyota which led to the defendants’ apprehension. The successful apprehension of the defendants in this case is a shining example of the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies. Bearing that in mind, I thank the Forest Park Police Department for their assistance in this case. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Bethany Jackson and Michael McBride for their efforts in securing charges against these two defendants.”

“The willingness of members of our community to help others in need is one of its greatest strengths, and those who would prey upon people only seeking to assist them must be held accountable,” Johnson said. “Hanover Park officers and investigators worked tirelessly over the past several days to see that justice was served for these victims. I would like to sincerely thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his staff as well as the Forest Park Police Department for their assistance in bringing about this result.”

The next court date for both defendants is scheduled for January 29, 2024, for arraignment in front of Judge Michael Reidy.

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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Daniel Szczesny