OAK BROOK – For those in collar counties that rest easy think what happens in Cook County doesn't affect them, here's a press release from DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin about two Chicago men out on bond – thanks to Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx – that are in DuPage County Jail, accused of armed robbery this week:
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police James Kruger announced this week that bond has been denied for two Chicago men charged with one count of Armed Robbery (Class X Felony) for allegedly robbing an Oak Brook Circle K gas station. Willie Carter, 20 (d.o.b. 1/14/2000) of the 300 block of S. Kilbourn Avenue and Sheldon Dean, 20 (d.o.b. 3/20/2000) of the 1600 block of S. Karlov Avenue, appeared in Bond Court today in front of Judge John Kinsella who denied bond.
On October 8, 2020 at approximately 1 a.m., an officer with the Oak Brook Police Department received a report of an armed robbery at the Circle K gas station located at 2210 22nd Street. It is alleged that two males, later identified as Carter and Dean, entered the store both wearing hooded sweatshirts with the hood cinched over their face, facemasks and gloves. It is alleged that one of the men who was armed with a gun, later determined to be a BB gun, approached the female clerk, walked behind the counter and said “you know what this is, open the drawer.” It is alleged that the man took money out of the register at this time and that the second man took cigarettes and cigars from the store and put them in a plastic bag. It is further alleged that the two men exited the store, entered a vehicle, which was reported stolen out of Berwyn the previous day, and fled the scene westbound on 22nd Street. It is alleged that at approximately 2:47 a.m., the men then robbed a Circle K gas station in Lincolnwood. At approximately 6:10 a.m. the same day, Carter and Dean were taken into custody by Chicago police officers after allegedly crashing the stolen vehicle following a brief car chase.
“On October 8, two armed robberies allegedly occurred in DuPage County within ten hours of each other, one in Bloomingdale and the case charged today in Oak Brook,” Berlin said. “Both cases involved individuals who were out on bond for felony offenses out of Cook County when they allegedly committed their crimes in DuPage County. These are not isolated incidents. With this in mind, the bail bond reforms enacted in 2017 need to be revisited and strengthened to protect not only the citizens of DuPage County, but all of Illinois’ residents. I would like to thank the Oak Brook Police Department for their work on this case as well as the Chicago, Lincolnwood and Skokie Police Departments for their assistance in apprehending the defendants in this case. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Helen Kapas for her efforts in securing a strong prosecution against each of these defendants.”
“I want to thank State’s Attorney Berlin and his staff for his dedication to keeping DuPage County safe and sending a message to offenders that we will not tolerate these kinds of serious crime in our community,” Kruger said. “I also appreciate the assistance of Chief Parrot and the Lincolnwood Police Department for their collaboration in bringing individuals to justice.”
The next scheduled court appearance for Dean is Scheduled for November 2, 2020 and the next scheduled date for Carter is scheduled for November 4, 2020. Both defendants’ cases will be in front of Judge Kinsella. If convicted, the defendants each face a penalty of between six to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
