Evergreen Park Man Wounded, Charged In Loop Brinks Armored Truck Robbery

CHICAGO — An Evergreen Park man is accused of robbing a Brinks armored truck driver in the Chicago Loop earlier this week. Dajon Harris, 23, appeared Friday before a federal judge on a felony charge of robbery affecting interstate commerce.

Moments after 11 a.m., Wednesday, a Brinks armored truck pulled up for a scheduled pickup at the Saks Off Fifth Store at 6 S. State Street. The driver told police that he met with the manager, who gave him seven or eight bags of cash, which he placed into a Brinks bag and left the store.

Once outside the store, the driver was approached by a man, later identified as Harris, federal agents said. Surveillance video showed Harris and the driver struggling over the bag, according to the complaint.

During the struggle, federal agents said Harris released one of his hands and began punching the driver, causing him to lose control of the Brinks bag. At some point during the scuffle, the feds said that the driver was able to unholster his gun and squeeze off three rounds at Harris.

Harris was observed traveling west by foot on Madison Street. Federal agents said Harris was captured on multiple private and public surveillance footage. Footage from the store showed the large white Brinks truck arriving at the store at 11:12 a.m.

Harris appeared on video dressed in all black, including wearing a black face mask. He waited by the door while the driver went into the store. When the driver exited the store, the feds said Harris approached him.

Footage showed the Harris scuffling with the driver for the bag, when Harris is seen punching him, the complaint said. In response, prosecutors said the driver pulled a gun out of his waistband and fired three shots at the alleged robber.

The FBI said that security footage from a Chicago police POD camera near an intersection showed Harris dropping the Brinks bag, which was found near 7 West Madison St. Another stack of money reportedly was also found in the street.

Police followed Harris’s movements to Dearborn Street toward the CTA Washington Blue Line Station. Officers encountered Harris collapsed at the CTA station at 11:20 a.m., eight minutes after the initial robbery, according to the complaint.

Law enforcement applied a tourniquet to Harris’s arm, and he was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.