Soda Thrower Leads Cops on Car Chase

A man police say threw a cup of pop at an employee at an Oak Lawn restaurant led cops on car chase through the village on May 14.

David Talbot, 43, of the 10400 block of South Mason, was charged with battery, eluding a police officer and reckless driving.

Police met with the manager of Portillo’s Restaurant, 4020 W. 95th St., who told police that Talbot became irate over a comment another employee made about the sharpness of a knife.

Talbot threw a cup of pop at the employee. It missed and hit another employee, police said.

The manager said Talbot fled the restaurant and employees were able to get the license plate number, which police traced to Talbot.

Police spotted Talbot’s car, a Chevy Cavalier, a few minutes later going west on 95th Street. Talbot was pulled over and police asked him if he had just left Portillo’s after throwing pop at an employee.

Talbot admitted to throwing the pop and was curious how police knew it was him, reports said.

After explaining to Talbot that employees got his plate number, Talbot got upset and told police they couldn’t stop him from throwing pop in someone’s face, reports said.

As police were calling in Talbot’s driver’s license, police said Talbot peeled out, screeching his tires and almost running over another police officer’s foot.

Talbot fled southbound on 52nd Avenue and nearly ran into a police community service car, reports said.

When police found Talbot’s car parked at the dead end of 96th Street south of the Metra tracks, Talbot wasn’t in it.

Police found Talbot walking down the 5300 block of 97th Street and took him in custody. Portillo’s employees were driven to the scene, where they positively identified Talbot as the man who threw pop at them, reports said.

Talbot has a June 27 court date in Bridgeview.