WOOD DALE MAN CHARGED WITH DRUG OFFENSES

WHEATON – DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett and Roselle Chief of Police James Kruger announced today that nineteen year-old Christopher Grzeca (d.o.b. 7/30/1989) of 411 North Walnut Avenue, Wood Dale, has been charged with one count of Drug Induced Infliction of Great Bodily Harm, a Class 1 Felony and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class 4 Felony.

            On April 5, 2009 paramedics were called to a Roselle address to assist a subject who was reported not breathing  Upon their arrival at the residence, paramedics found a sixteen year-old boy unresponsive.  The boy was transported to the hospital where he remained in a coma for approximately two weeks.  An investigation into the matter led by the Roselle Police Department and the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group (DuMEG) led to today’s charges.  It is alleged that Grzeca obtained morphine pills from an acquaintance of his whose family member had a prescription for the pills.   It is further alleged that Grzeca then sold the morphine pills to his victim.  The victim is currently recovering and receiving rehabilitation therapy. 

            “I would like to thank the Roselle Police Department as well as DuMEG and Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Marchese for their work on this case,” commented Birkett.  “Prescription drugs are still drugs and precautions should be taken to make sure they do not end up in the hands of anyone other than the person for whom they were prescribed.”

Grzeca is currently being held in the DuPage County Jail on a $200,000 bond with 10% to apply.  His next court appearance is scheduled for August 17 in front of Judge Peter Dockery.

             “This case demonstrates the need for family members to be extra vigilant when prescribed dangerous medications,” remarked Kruger.  “The results could have been tragic for all of the families involved.  Because of the complexity of the case, the collaboration of all the agencies involved brought the case to a successful conclusion.”

Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are 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.

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