Bond set at $5 million for man facing multiple drug, weapons charges

Bond was set for at $5 million full cash Sunday for a Des Plaines man accused of multiple weapons and drug charges following a high-speed pursuit May 27.

Nicholas Valentino, 33, of the 8000 block of North Western Avenue, has been charged with unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, two counts of armed violence, two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, according to a DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office news release.

On the evening of May 27, officers with the DuPage County Metropolitan Enforcement Group (DuMeg) were conducting surveillance at a Wood Dale warehouse suspected in drug activity. While conducting surveillance, agents saw a van and a Volkswagen leave the warehouse. Valentino allegedly was driving the Volkswagen.

Agents continued surveillance on the vehicles into Chicago before terminating surveillance. As the agents returned from Chicago, they again saw the van and resumed 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 subsequently came to an abrupt stop at which time agents saw an individual, later identified as Valentino, on the street allegedly pointing a gun at them. Valentino allegedly fired two shots at the agents’ car.

The agents reversed their car and were not hit by the gunfire. After firing at the agents, Valentino entered the same Volkswagen the agents conducted surveillance on earlier and fled at a high rate of speed along with the van. Prior to the shooting, the Volkswagen allegedly 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 crash with a Bensenville squad car and an unmarked DuMeg squad car.

Valentino allegedly was the driver and only occupant of the Volkswagen. He was taken into custody at this time. In the center console of the Volkswagen, police found a full magazine for an AR-15 assault rifle and two cell phones. Wood Dale police 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 Valentino.

An AR-15 style assault rifle with no magazine and one round jammed in the chamber was later 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 40 pallets of vacuum-sealed cannabis totaling approximately 7,688 pounds, approximately 406 pounds of cannabis edibles, 6,891 THC cartridges and more than700 grams psilocybin mushroom bars. The estimated street value of the cannabis recovered in the warehouse is approximately $22 million. Authorities also recovered more than $107,000, an AK-47 and 9mm ammunition.

“The allegations against Mr. Valentino are completely outrageous,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Berlin said in the release. “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.”

“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 in the release. “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,” Wood Dale Chief of Police Greg Vesta said in the release.”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, for arraignment.