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| Conner (top); Davis (bottom) and a sheriff bus entering Belmont & Western’s sally port. |
Finally! Here’s a feel-good story for folks who are tired of hearing about repeat criminals who keep shuffling in and out of courtrooms while seemingly suffering no consequences.
Last Wednesday, Brian Conner, 25; Clarence Davis, 27; and Kevin Carrau, 22, appeared in front of Judge Anthony Calabrese for a probable cause hearing after they were accused of threatening people with stolen golf clubs, shoplifting, and breaking into a car in Lakeview. You may have read our story about the appearance.
Calabrese shook his head in disbelief, saying that he was “gobsmacked” that the three gang bangers had been charged only with misdemeanors and that all were freed on recognizance bonds.
Fast-forward to this Wednesday. The three men had another date in Calabrese’s courtroom. Conner and Carreau showed up. Davis didn’t.
Calabrese thought out loud about the bench warrant he was preparing to issue for Davis. He wanted to set the bail amount high enough so any law enforcement officer would know the seriousness of the case. Decision: $25,000 warrant for “mob action.”
Davis wandered into court around 11 a.m. and was arrested on the spot. He’s still sitting in Cook County Jail today, apparently unable to raise the $2,500 that would set him free.
Perhaps the best part of our story is this: After Conner left the courthouse at Belmont and Western on Wednesday morning, he headed to Boystown and swung by the Center on Halsted around noontime. Despite the fact that he is banned from the premises, Conner walked inside, yelled obscenities at a security guard and flipped off staff members, police said.
He was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing. This morning, he walked into court for his initial hearing on the matter. Guess who was on the bench waiting for him? Judge Anthony “Gobsmacked” Calabrese.
Thoroughly familiar with Conner, Calabrese was efficient yet courteous as he set bail at $3,000 bail for the trespassing charge. He was equally polite as he ordered Conner held without bail for violating the terms of his recognizance bond in the “mob action” case.
Conner, Davis, and Carrau are all due back in Calabrese’s court on Wednesday.
