Crime & Safety
Agent Dragged Half A Block As Teen Stole FBI SUV: Prosecutors
UPDATED: The 17-year-old boy has an extensive juvenile record and was on probation before he was arrested for the vehicle theft Tuesday.
CHICAGO, IL — A 17-year-old boy is accused of stealing an unattended SUV belonging to the FBI on Monday on the Near West Side and then dragging an agent who tried to stop him from driving off, according to Chicago police. A Cook County judge ordered the teen held in custody during a hearing Wednesday in juvenile court, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The boy was arrested at about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, July 4, in the 5000 block of West Washington Boulevard in the South Austin neighborhood after he was identified in the theft, police said in a statement. He was charged with several felony counts, including vehicular hijacking, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated battery to a peace officer. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)
At around 12:09 a.m. Monday, July 3, an FBI agent left a white 2014 Chevrolet Equinox unattended with the engine running at a gas station in the 300 block of South Morgan Street, police said. That's when the teen allegedly got into the SUV and accelerated as the agent tried to retrieve the vehicle.
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According to prosecutors at the hearing Wednesday, the agent tried to convince the teen to stop, the Sun-Times reports.
“I’m the police! I’m the police! You don’t want to do this,” he said.
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But the boy continued to drive away, dragging the agent about a half block, as well, the report stated. The agent suffered a hurt right arm, hip and back from the ordeal, the report added.
The teen has an extensive juvenile record and has previous convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a stolen car, according to the Sun-Times. He already was on probation before Tuesday's arrest, the report added.
Police found the SUV on Monday evening in the 900 block of South Leavitt Street in the Tri-Taylor neighborhood, blocks from the FBI's Chicago field office. Several firearms and tactical gear, including a ballistic vest, were in the vehicle when it was stolen. Some of the equipment was discovered abandoned in the area, but authorities haven't said if all of the firearms and other weapons and gear have been recovered.
More via the Chicago Sun-Times
UPDATED (7:53 p.m. Wednesday, July 5)
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