Story posted Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Taxi Robbery Investigation Brings Charges Against 4
Des Plaines police apprehended four men during the investigation of a recent armed robbery.
On Jan. 28 at about 8:20 p.m., Jesus S. Murrillo, 21, of 1370 E. Fargo Ave., Des Plaines, allegedly got into a taxicab in 3000 block of Mannheim Road and asked for a ride home. The 45-year-old cab driver took him to a residential area near Maple Street and Howard Avenue where Murrillo allegedly told him to stop the cab and pointed a small silver handgun at him. He allegedly struck the driver in the head with the butt of the gun and took $200 from him.
Murrillo allegedly ordered the driver out of the cab and told him to lie down on the ground. The driver got out, refused to lie down, and then tried to make a call on his cellular telephone. Murrillo allegedly grabbed the phone, threw it to the ground, took the ignition key from the cab, and fled. The driver drove himself home then to a hospital for treatment.
Officers charged Murillo with armed robbery and aggravated battery. During the course of the investigation, police also apprehended Agustin Velazquez, 24, of 207 Comstock Ave., Elgin, Jason Brandt, 22, of 815 E. Oakton St., Des Plaines, and Hector Gomez, 30, of 1965 Illinois St., Des Plaines. They were all charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and by a gang member.
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