Man digging out parking spot in Noble Square has Lexus carjacked. Four caught later in car but none charged in attack, cops say.
Four people were taken into custody early Wednesday after being pulled over in a Lexus sedan that police said was stolen from a man digging out a parking spot in the Noble Square neighborhood, but none of them have been charged in the carjacking.
A 28-year-old man was digging out a spot for his car in the 1400 block of North Cleaver Street about 11: 40 p.m. Tuesday when two male attackers pulled up in a tan Ford Fusion and pointed a handgun at the man, fishing money and keys out of his pockets, according to police. The two fled the scene, one in the Ford and the other in the man’s blue Lexus ES300.
Officers in a Chicago police squad car noticed the stolen vehicle in the South Austin neighborhood several hours later and conducted a traffic stop, according to a police media notification. Officers detained two males, ages 19 and 15, and two females, also ages 19 and 15.
One of the four taken into custody, John Daniels, 19, had an outstanding warrant and was arrested. The three others were released without charges. Police wouldn’t say if any of those initially taken into custody were suspected in other carjackings.
Daniels was wanted on a warrant related his not appearing in court in December for an August case in which he’s accused of theft of items worth more than $500 from a retailer in the first block of South State Street.
Two other carjackings were also reported late Tuesday:
—A 34-year-old man had his Range Rover stolen when a person approached him and produced a weapon at around 7:40 p.m. in the 800 block of West Willow Street in the Ranch Triangle neighborhood, police said.
—About 6 p.m., a 22-year-old man was sitting in a 2006 Jeep Cherokee waiting for a friend to exit a building in the Burnside neighborhood on the Far South Side. Two males stopped in a dark blue Chevy Equinox and produced a handgun, demanding the Jeep and taking cash from the victim’s pockets, police said.
No one was in custody in either case, police say.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has said the recent increase in carjackings is “top of mind” for her and announced the CPD has detailed 40 officers to teams to investigate the crimes.
The mayor has called the issue a “regionwide crisis” and said the city plans to work with other mayors and police departments in the area.
Meanwhile, one South Side alderman is working with gas stations and private security to set up times when residents who are scared of the recent spate of carjackings can fill up on gas. Read more about “Operation Safe Pump” here.
