One man is in custody while another remains at large after a landscaping contractor was robbed of a $900 leaf blower in Lakeview, police said.
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| Brewer (Chicago Police Dept) |
The 20-year-old landscaper was working in the 3500 block of N. Janssen when he saw a man stealing the leaf blower from his equipment trailer around 2:30PM on Friday.
The victim ran to confront the thief and another man who was standing near their get-away car. The thief pushed the landscaper to the ground and then reached into his waistband to indicate that he had a firearm, the victim said. The two men got into their car and drove off.
Minutes later, police alerted to the robbery found the get-away car parked in an alley behind the 3500 block of N. Bosworth. The lone occupant of the car —Cornelius Brewer of the Chicago Lawn neighborhood—was arrested.
Meanwhile, the thief who allegedly stole the equipment and reached into his waistband remains at large. He is described as black, about 19-years-old, 6-feet tall, with long dreadlocks. He was last seen running in and out of gangways near Addison and Bosworth, according to a witness.
Brewer, 20, is charged with aggravated robbery, theft of lost or mislaid property, battery, and pot possession, according to court records.
Police say Brewer told them that he and the other man went to traffic court earlier on Friday and were just driving around town when they wound up in Wrigleyville.
The landscaper suffered cuts and bruises in the attack, but he refused medical attention.
Officers also recovered a Stihl cement saw from the suspects’ vehicle. The saw is also believed to be stolen.
