Court Grants Motion to Deny Pre-Trial Release for Woman Accused of DUI, Fleeing from Police

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin and Wheaton Chief of Police Princeton J. Youker announced that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State's motion to deny pre-trial release for a DeKalb woman accused of drinking and driving then fleeing from police with her 12-year-old daughter in the car. Brittany Getter, 33 (d.o.b. 7/31/1990) of the 1000 block of Arcadia Drive, appeared in First Appearance Court on May 7, 2024, charged with one count of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (Class 4 Felony) and 17 misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including DUI, Endangering the Health or Life of a Child, Reckless Driving and Transportation or Possession of Open Alcohol by Driver.

On May 6, 2024, at approximately 1:24 a.m., a Wheaton police officer observed a Ford Escape allegedly traveling 76 mph in a 35-mph zone near Roosevelt Road and Washington Street. The officer activated his emergency lights and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. It is alleged that the Escape, allegedly driven by Getter, did not pull over and continued driving westbound on Roosevelt Road with the officer in pursuit. It is alleged that during the pursuit, Getter disobeyed multiple traffic control devices, ultimately making her way to westbound North Avenue, where officers deployed spike strips which Getter avoided by driving west in the eastbound lane of North Avenue. The pursuit was terminated at this time out of safety concerns. A short time later, officers with the Kane County Sheriff's Office successfully deployed spike strips, which stopped Getter's vehicle. It is further alleged that once stopped, Getter refused to exit the vehicle requiring utilization of Kane County SWAT to remove her from the vehicle. Once out of the vehicle, officers allegedly observed Getter's eyes to be glassy and bloodshot and detected an odor of alcohol coming from her breath. It is alleged that Getter's 12-year-old daughter was in the back seat of the car during the entire incident. It is further alleged that when searching her vehicle, officers found an open bottle of Don Julio Tequilla that was less than half full and a Crown Royal bag containing two baggies of cannabis.

"It is alleged that Ms. Getter not only fled from police at an extremely high rate of speed after she had been drinking but did so with her young daughter in the back seat," Berlin said. "The behavior alleged in this case is irresponsible and reckless on multiple levels and put not only the motoring public at risk, but also Ms. Getter and her daughter. We are all grateful that no one was injured as a result of the defendant's alleged actions. I thank the Wheaton Police Department for their work on this case and for their continuing efforts in keeping our roadways safe as well as the Kane County Sheriff's Office for their efforts in taking Ms. Getter safely into custody. I also thank Assistant State's Attorneys Bethany Jackson and Michael Pingaj for their work in securing charges against Ms. Getter."

"Good decision-making, teamwork and interdepartmental cooperation led to the arrest of Ms. Getter," Chief Youker said. "My officers made the correct decision to discontinue their initial pursuit of Ms. Getter's vehicle and disseminate the vehicle's description, after she allegedly began speeding into oncoming traffic. The old adage, 'You can't outrun the radio,' could not be truer in this incident. Special thanks to our Kane County partners for assisting in taking a dangerous motorist off of our streets. I also thank State's Attorney Bob Berlin and his team for prosecuting those who put the public at risk."

Getter's next court appearance is scheduled for June 3, 2024, for arraignment in front of Judge Brian Telander.

Notice to Public: Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant's guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government's burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Brittany Getter