Four men and two juveniles have been charged with beating a man after stealing his cell phone and money in River North early Friday. Police continue to investigate a similar attack that happened minutes earlier in the Loop.
A 21-year-old man was standing in the 700 block of North Rush Street around 1 a.m. Friday when 18-year-old Dylan Sanders took a cell phone and cash from his hand, according to police. The victim chased after Sanders and found himself caught up in a group of men who proceeded to beat him on the street, police said.
All of the offenders fled the scene but were scooped up by police within 20 minutes. The victim, who sustained bruising to his face, declined medical attention.
Sanders is charged with misdemeanor theft in the case. It is his fifth arrest in Chicago since February 17, according to police records.
Charged with battery are 18-year-old Jeremy Wilson, 19-year-old Malik Shaw, 18-year-old Joshuan Pilgrim, and two male juveniles ages 16 and 17, a police spokesman said.
On Friday, Chicago police issued a media alert stating that the River North case “appears to be connected” to a similar incident in the Loop that was reported 40 minutes earlier.
Police said a 34-year-old man was walking near State and Polk around 12:25 a.m. when five offenders threw him to the ground and began beating him. The crew then ran away with the victim’s backpack which contained two cell phones, glasses, and miscellaneous items. EMS treated the man on-scene for his injuries.
On Sunday afternoon, Chicago police said the Polk Street robbery remained under investigation and no charges had been filed.