3 arrested after early morning armed robbery, car crash in Wilmette
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A stolen car flipped on its side just feet from the lobby of a North Shore condo building after an attempted robbery, shooting, and brief police chase early Tuesday morning.
The dramatic arrest was captured on video along Sheridan Road by the lakefront in north suburban Wilmette. One of the armed robbers allegedly fired through their windshield towards Wilmette Police.
The speeding car hit a retaining wall at an apartment complex at 1630 Sheridan Road shortly before 5:30 a.m., coming close to plowing through the vestibule where the doorman was on duty.
Resident Elio Montenegro shot video of the aftermath from the lobby on his cell phone.
"This morning, sound asleep, hear the sirens, and then a crash, a big bang that obviously was not normal," he said Elio Montenegro. "My wife said 'Don't go out there. The cops are screaming do not go outside. Stay away from the windows.'"
Montenegro did not go outside, but he did film from the lobby window, capturing the moments Wilmette police took three offenders into custody, finding two semi-automatic handguns in the car.
The whole incident started just 5 minutes earlier in the 400 block of Central Avenue, where a 63-year-old victim was robbed at gunpoint of his cell phone, car keys, and ID.
Police said the suspects then took off in a car that had been reported stolen on Sunday. Officers caught up with the car minutes later at 10th at Central, and tried to make a traffic stop. Apparently, the car took the turn so quickly that it flipped over.
As the cops approached the car, someone fired through the windshield towards them, according to police. They missed, and Wilmette Police did not return fire.
"To me it was an example of professionalism. Truly the video that we've saw today can serve as a training video for many other departments on how do we effectively make an arrest and take individuals into custody," Montenegro said.
One of the suspects was injured in the crash and taken to a local hospital.
As for charges, Wilmette Police said the investigation is ongoing and will be reviewed with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.
