Officers chased down a suspect after they happened to walk into a gas station in Gurnee moments after the suspect robbed the store, prosecutors said.
Jordan M. Kennedy, 22, of Lake Villa, was charged with aggravated robbery and resisting arrest causing injury.
A Gurnee Police Department officer went inside the Speedway at Grand Avenue and Dilleys Road in Gurnee on February 4.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emily Shanley-Roberts said the clerk told the officer a robbery had just occurred right before he walked into the store.
The suspect, later identified as Kennedy, entered the store and picked up a couple of charging cords for sale.
Kennedy attempted to use his phone to pay for the items and the clerk told him the purchase was not successful, Shanley-Roberts said.
Kennedy then allegedly grabbed several additional charging cords and walked toward the exit. The value of the merchandise was over $100.
The clerk followed Kennedy and stopped the man, at which point Kennedy pulled out a box cutter, Shanley-Roberts said.
Officers searched the area and located Kennedy. He fled from officers and ran into the street.
Kennedy resisted arrest and one of the officers suffered a minor cut to his hand, Shanley-Roberts said.
The clerk positively identified Kennedy as the suspect. The man was found with a crackpipe and admitted to smoking crack that day.
Kennedy made spontaneous utterances to “Speedway,” “boxcutter” and “iPhone charging cables” following his arrest, Shanley-Roberts said.
A public defender for Kennedy said his client was previously in the National Guard and is seeking admission to a college for chemical engineering. The attorney said Kennedy has no criminal history.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Kennedy pending trial.
Lake County Judge Ari Fisz granted the petition after finding the man poses a real and present danger to the community.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 28.