Bystanders intervened after a man, who is on probation for armed robbery in Libertyville, tried carjacking a mother and child in Mundelein, prosecutors said.
Kendale Brown, 20, of Mundelein, was charged with one count of attempted vehicular hijacking.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelse Banks said officers were called to the Lakeside Apartments in the 1300 block of West Maple Avenue in Mundelein on June 30.
A woman told police that she parked her car outside the apartment building so she could pick something up.
Her 5-year-old son was in the rear seat and the woman was unbuckling the boy from the seat, Banks said.
An unknown person, later identified as Brown, entered the driver’s seat of her car and tried to steal the vehicle.
The woman lunged from the rear across the center console to try and stop the man, Banks said.
The woman began screaming and bystanders heard the screams and approached the car.
Brown exited the driver’s seat and fled on foot, Banks said. Officers located Brown after being given a description.
A showup of the suspect was conducted and the victim, who suffered a minor injury during the incident, positively identified him.
It is unclear why Brown was not immediately transported to the Lake County Jail following the arrest.
An arrest warrant was issued and he surrendered on the warrant on July 17, court records show.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Brown held on a $500,000 bond.
Court records show Brown was on probation at the time of the attempted carjacking for an armed robbery in Libertyville that occurred in May 2022.
He received 36 months of probation and 12 months of periodic imprisonment for that case.
Brown remains held in the jail and would need to post $50,000 cash in order to be released.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on August 16 for a preliminary hearing.