An Oak Park woman’s visit to St. Charles could have ended worse.

Sarah C. Guse, 18, of the 900 block of North Boulevard, Oak Park, was charged with illegal consumption of alcohol, and resisting a peace officer, in an incident that began early Saturday, Dec. 22, with a report of an auto theft in progress.

A 47-year-old resident of the 00-9 block of North 12^th Street called St. Charles police about 4:01 a.m. to report his Cadillac Escalade was being stolen. The owner told police he and his family were ready to leave for a trip and had parked the vehicle in the alley next to their home. He said he had left the engine running to warm it up. As he came outside, someone was driving off with the vehicle.

Officers who arrived at the home were advised by dispatchers that the owner had called back, saying the vehicle had just driven past his home. Officers found the vehicle parked on Brook Street, and Guse was getting out of the Escalade.

When confronted, Guse explained to the officer that she had been at a friend’s house in the area and at one point realized she did not have her cellphone. Her friend told her to take his car to go find it. So she left his home and got into the Escalade, which she assumed was her friend’s, and left.

But Guse had second thoughts about whether she had taken the right vehicle, she told the officer. She used a cellphone on the seat of the vehicle to call another friend, who told her she had the wrong car. So Guse headed back to return it.

As the officer was questioning Guse, the vehicle’s owner showed up and the officer instructed Guse to get into the back of the squad car. She resisted, ultimately prompting the officer to arrest and handcuff her and get her into the back of the squad. Police said the woman had been drinking earlier in the evening.

The vehicle was not damaged at all and police declined to pursue car theft charges against Guse. The owner told officers he simply was grateful to get his vehicle back without any damage.

Guse, however, still faces a court appearance on the underage drinking and resisting a peace officer charges. She posted $150 cash bond and was released pending a Jan. 17, 2013, court appearance.

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