Cops: Mud flap helps nab hit-and-run driver who hit cyclist

Trib link to article here

Glenview police used a lost car part to track down and arrest a man who allegedly backed his vehicle into a bicyclist Wednesday at Patriot Boulevard and Independence Avenue.

The bicyclist filed a complaint with police stating that around 2 a.m., the driver of a 1990 Toyota Corolla intentionally backed his car into him, said police Cmdr. Jeff Ader.

"Some words were thrown back and forth," Ader said.

No one was injured, Ader said, and the bicyclist was knocked into the bushes along the road. While the bicyclist did not catch the car's license plate number, the driver left an important clue.

"There was some investigative work that occurred, because he left part of his car behind," Ader said.

During the scuffle, the car was caught on the curb, and a portion of a mud flap was lost, he said. Police used a part number printed on the flap to determine the year, make and model of the car.

While driving through the northern suburb, police saw the Corolla with a missing mud flap parked in the driveway of 19-year-old Pawel Gorlo's home.

Gorlo was arrested at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, about 14 hours after the incident occurred, and charged with battery, aggravated assault and reckless driving. He was released on a $1,000 bond and given a July 9 court date.

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Permalink Reply by A.K.A Paul on July 2, 2010 at 4:25pm

Can we hire the Glenview police to work in Chicago?

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on July 2, 2010 at 5:38pm

Lucky it happened in the suburbs where the police investigate things.

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Permalink Reply by Vilda on July 2, 2010 at 5:41pm

Still Cook County. The kid will get 2 years "intensive probation". And the cycling community will take another knock on the chin for bein passive and not wanting to hurt peoples feelings. ;-)

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Permalink Reply by A.K.A Paul on July 2, 2010 at 7:22pm

Very sad...but very true.

Gabe said:

Still Cook County. The kid will get 2 years "intensive probation". And the cycling community will take another knock on the chin for bein passive and not wanting to hurt peoples feelings. ;-)