A Highland Park man has been arrested and charged with committing a bank robbery where he pepper-sprayed bank tellers and used a fire extinguisher on them in Northbrook.
The Northbrook Police Department responded around 9:30 a.m. on May 28 to Huntington Bank, 1220 Meadow Road in Northbrook, for a report of a bank robbery.
A suspect, later identified as Emeril England, 25, of Highland Park, entered the bank and approached the tellers, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.
One of the tellers greeted England, who immediately began spraying the tellers with pepper spray, the complaint said.
The complaint said England then removed a fire extinguisher from a black bag and began spraying the tellers with it.
The two bank tellers immediately ran to an office and locked themselves inside.
They told investigators they feared for their lives and were worried the suspect, who one of the tellers described as looking like rappers Lil Wayne or Lil Jon, could have a gun, the complaint said.
England allegedly stole money from the teller drawers totaling nearly $5,000 and fled the scene.
A Metra train spotted a person matching England’s description walking along the bush line near the train tracks nearby heading toward a silver older model four-door sedan that was parked near the train tracks approximately a half-mile away from the bank.
The vehicle had fled the scene and was spotted on automated license plate reader cameras.
The silver Toyota Avalon was registered to England at an address in Highland Park, the complaint said.
The Toyota was tracked to the 2600 block of West Touhy Avenue in Chicago and a search warrant was executed by police and the FBI.
England was inside the apartment and, without being asked, told officers the items they were looking for were under a bed in the apartment.
A pellet gun, dreadlocks wig, a can of pepper spray, cash and items worn by the bank robber were located, the complaint said.
England was arrested and he admitted to planning and committing the robbery during an interview with investigators. He recounted in detail to investigators about his actions.
England was charged in the U.S. District Court in Chicago with bank robbery by force or violence.
A judge ordered England detained in federal custody pending trial and also recommended he undergo a medical and mental health evaluation.