Cops catch armed robber with help from good samaritan
Posted:
Updated:
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) -
Chicago police say the quick thinking of a Good Samaritan led to the arrest of a convicted felon who held up a Humboldt Park shoe store at gunpoint Thursday.
After hearing the cries of distressed Payless Shoes store employees, police say the Good Samaritan saw 29-year-old Eleizer Degaldo and an accomplice flee the 4000 West North Avenue store with money taken during the robbery.
The Samaritan ran after Degaldo, watching as the robber took refuge in a nearby Laundromat, police said. He then alerted police to Degaldo's location and officers were able to make an arrest. Police are still searching for the accomplice.
Degaldo "obviously is a dangerous individual with a handgun," said police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli, adding that the robbery was "clearly" not Degaldo's "first rodeo."
"Due to the bravery of the citizen, he led police to the location and they got (Degaldo) off the street," Mirabelli said.
Minutes earlier at about 6:30 p.m. Degaldo and his accomplice walked into the shoe store and demanded money at gunpoint, police said.
After taking several items from employees and gathering a small amount of cash from the register, Degaldo is alleged to have forced store employees into a back room, demanding that they open a safe, according to police.
"When they realized the main safe couldn't be opened in a timely manner, they fled out the door," Mirabelli said.
Degaldo, who lives nearby in the 1400 block of North Monticello Avenue, was charged with two felony counts of armed robbery and one felony count for possession of a firearm by a felon.
None of the store employees were injured during the robbery, which police continue to investigate.
Thursday, June 13 2013 1:45 PM EDT2013-06-13 17:45:09 GMT
Even a fire hydrant is feeling the Blackhawks spirit, especially after Chicago's midnight victory over the Boston Bruins at the United Center in triple overtime.
Even a fire hydrant is feeling the Blackhawks spirit, especially after Chicago's midnight victory over the Boston Bruins at the United Center in triple overtime.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 3:48 PM EDT2013-06-19 19:48:47 GMT
A body found in the water off the 39th street beach Wednesday has been positively identified as missing University of Chicago student Austin Hudson-Lapore, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed.
A body found in the water off the 39th street beach Wednesday has been positively identified as missing University of Chicago student Austin Hudson-Lapore, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 3:48 PM EDT2013-06-19 19:48:16 GMT
Chicago is at the tipping point, as the showdown continues over CPS closings. The final bell will ring for more than half of the public schools scheduled to close on Friday, under CPS' reorganization plan.
Chicago is at the tipping point, as the showdown continues over CPS closings. The final bell will ring for more than half of the public schools scheduled to close on Friday, under CPS' reorganization plan.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 2:12 PM EDT2013-06-19 18:12:39 GMT
Police are urging parents and community members to exercise caution after a man tried luring an 11-year-old girl into a car in the North Side Albany Park neighborhood.
Police are urging parents and community members to exercise caution after a man tried luring an 11-year-old girl into a car in the North Side Albany Park neighborhood.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 2:08 PM EDT2013-06-19 18:08:32 GMT
After collecting tens of thousands of dollars for themselves on Wednesday, members of the General Assembly plan to kick the can of public employee pension reform down the road for at least one more month.
After collecting tens of thousands of dollars for themselves on Wednesday, members of the General Assembly plan to kick the can of public employee pension reform down the road for at least one more month.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 1:32 PM EDT2013-06-19 17:32:03 GMT
Nearly 9 percent of Illinois' bridges are "structurally deficient" and in need of serious maintenance or replacement -- an uptick of 1 percent from two years ago, a new report indicates.
Nearly 9 percent of Illinois' bridges are "structurally deficient" and in need of serious maintenance or replacement -- an uptick of 1 percent from two years ago, a new report indicates.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 12:53 PM EDT2013-06-19 16:53:49 GMT
Police on Tuesday said they are looking for a maroon Hyundai Sonata that fatally struck a woman in a Bridgeport hit-and-run last week on the South Side.
Police on Tuesday said they are looking for a maroon Hyundai Sonata that fatally struck a woman in a Bridgeport hit-and-run last week on the South Side.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 12:04 PM EDT2013-06-19 16:04:44 GMT
A man previously convicted of sex trafficking in Cook County has been charged again, this time for allegedly kidnapping a Minnesota woman and bringing her to Chicago to work in the sex trade.
A man previously convicted of sex trafficking in Cook County has been charged again, this time for allegedly kidnapping a Minnesota woman and bringing her to Chicago to work in the sex trade.