A suspect who was armed with a knife and brass knuckles attacked and robbed a Dollar General employee who was riding on a scooter near his work in Waukegan, prosecutors said.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 9:30 p.m. on April 26 to the intersection of North Lewis Avenue and Golf Road near a Citgo gas station in Waukegan for a report of a fight in progress.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Cannon said a witness called 911 and advised they saw a male black and a male Hispanic fighting at the intersection.
The victim, who was hysterical, also called 911 and reported that a black male had punched him and had gone into the gas station.
The victim reported that the suspect had a knife and that he took the victim’s scooter and money, Cannon said.
The victim gave 911 dispatchers the offender’s description and current location and described the offender as riding a bicycle towards a nearby Dollar General.
Police located the suspect, identified as Reginald J. Williams, 37, of Waukegan, and detained him.
Williams immediately tried telling officers he was the victim and attacked a guy on a scooter who damaged his property, Cannon said. He said the alleged victim gave him money to pay for the damaged property.
Officers found $49 in mixed bills and a pocket knife that was attached to brass knuckles.
Cannon said Williams claimed he lost consciousness when the scooter hit him so he was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
Williams later told police the incident was not physical except for when the victim bumped into him. He denied punching the victim.
Williams said he was mad about the victim running into him and breaking his items, which were alcohol and shampoo bottles, Cannon said.
Williams said he carried the knife on him because the victim was “big as [expletive]” and admitted to wearing the brass knuckles while interacting with the victim but denied displaying them or the knife.
He also admitted to riding the victim’s scooter around because he was mad but denied stealing it because he did not ride off on it, Cannon said.
Officers located the victim with an electric scooter and what appeared to be soap stains on his pants and redness to his knee and shin.
The victim was fearful, crying and hysterical. The victim advised that he works at Dollar General and was riding his scooter home.
The victim told officers he looked both ways and did not see anyone but ended up crashing into Williams with his scooter, Cannon said.
He said Williams started yelling at him and demanding money for his damaged property.
The victim said that the suspect became verbally aggressive towards him and the victim begged Williams not to take his scooter as it was the victim’s only mode of transportation, Cannon said.
Williams allegedly put his hand in his pocket and began demanding money. Cannon said the victim saw the end of a knife sticking out of Williams’ pocket as the suspect said he was armed and said, “I’ll slap the [expletive] out of you.”
The victim gave the suspect $60 and Williams took the victim’s scooter and rode it up and down the sidewalk. Williams was identified as the suspect during a show-up.
Officers observed broken bottles in the intersection area and the nearby gas station video showed some portions of the interaction, Cannon said.
The witness, who had called 911, told police that he saw Williams and the victim yelling back and forth, with the victim defensively walking backwards before Williams punched the victim.
Williams was charged with armed robbery, robbery, three counts of felon in possession of a weapon and aggravated robbery indicating armed.
Williams has multiple felony convictions, including in Lake County for domestic battery and aggravated battery to a pregnant woman.
He was on court supervision for retail theft in a 2025 case at the time of the robbery.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Williams pending trial, arguing he poses a danger to the community, which was granted by Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim following a detention hearing.
“While this Defendant was court ordered not to commit any new offenses under court supervision, he illegally possessed a dangerous weapon, being a knife, and threatened the victim with it, demanding money. This Defendant has an extensive criminal history of violent, assaultive, or abusive behavior against others,” Cannon said.
“Furthermore, this Defendant was seen by a third-party witness punching the victim in the face and actively being the aggressor in the situation. This Defendant is a danger to the victim and to the community and must be detained pending the disposition of these matters,” Cannon added.
Williams remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on July 8 for a case management conference.