A judge denied pre-trial release for a former Waukegan Christian school teacher charged in numerous kidnappings and armed robberies that occurred in Chicago.
Antoine Perteet, 33, of Waukegan, was charged with three counts of armed robbery with a firearm, three counts of kidnapping with a firearm and one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm.
The Chicago Police Department announced the charges against Perteet on Wednesday.
Perteet, who was already in the custody of the Cook County Jail, was served with the charges by members of the Vehicular Hijacking Task Force on Tuesday.
Police say Perteet was identified as the suspect responsible for holding victims against their will and robbing them at gunpoint.
A 33-year-old man was kidnapped and robbed, which included having his car stolen, in the 1600 block of South Springfield in Chicago on June 21.
A 51-year-old man was kidnapped and robbed on June 24 in the 2100 block of South Millard in Chicago.
A 30-year-old man was kidnapped and robbed in the 1800 block of South Springfield in Chicago on July 13.
Lions Mathematics and Science Christian Academy in Waukegan previously listed Perteet in a staff directory as a physical education instructor and security guard at the school. They have since removed him from their directory.
NBC Chicago reported that Cook County Judge Maryam Ahmad ordered Perteet detained pending trial during a detention hearing this week.
Perteet is accused of targeting the victims through the dating app Grindr.
CWBChicago reported in January that Perteet was charged in a violent home invasion in Cicero that occurred on June 28.
During that incident, the victim was restrained and had a towel stuffed in his mouth.
Perteet, who was armed with a gun, and an accomplice then went through the victim’s home and stole his belongings, CWBChicago reported.