Naperville man allegedly stole vehicle, resisted arrest and assaulted officer when taken into custody

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. - A Naperville man was arrested Monday after police say he was found with a vehicle reported stolen the day before.

What we know:

Naperville police were first called Sunday morning to the 900 block of North Brainard Street after residents reported several vehicles had been broken into overnight and that a 2007 Honda Civic was missing.

At about 2:30 p.m. Monday, the stolen car was detected by license plate reader technology and followed into the west suburb by an Illinois State Police trooper, according to police.

Police said once Naperville officers arrived in the area, the driver stopped the stolen vehicle in the 800 block of North Brainard Street and ran. After a short foot chase, officers took the suspect into custody.

He was identified as 19-year-old Ethan M. Christiansen.

Ethan M. Christiansen

During the arrest, police said Christiansen resisted and assaulted an officer. Police also reported finding on him a white powder that tested positive for cocaine and pills that tested positive for methamphetamine in the area of where he ran.

Christiansen faces five felony charges, including aggravated battery, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear if Christiansen is connected to the vehicle burglaries that occurred early Sunday morning. The investigation is ongoing.

What they're saying:

"This arrest highlights the effectiveness of strong partnerships and technology in keeping our community safe," Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres said in a statement.

"I commend the Illinois State Police and our officers for their quick coordination and professionalism, particularly during a situation that escalated and resulted in an officer being battered. We take crimes involving stolen vehicles, drug possession, and violence against officers very seriously, and we will continue working diligently to hold offenders accountable."