Streeterville area crime blotter June 20, 2019

Lutrell Moore (inset) and the Chicago Chophouse | Google

An Englewood man who stole a tourist’s SUV from the valet zone at Chicago Chophouse, 60 West Ontario, on Sunday evening was found hiding from police in a trash dumpster, according to allegations in court records.

The stolen car sits abandoned on a sidewalk. | Provided

Before the car was even reported stolen, a sergeant saw the driver commit a minor traffic violation near Ohio and Michigan and approached on foot. As the officer moved in, 19-year-old  Lutrell Moore bolted from the driver’s seat and ran into a nearby alley, police said.

Cops allegedly found him hiding in a trash bin behind Epic Burger, 227 East Ontario.

Around the time that he was discovered, police learned that the Ford Edge he reportedly ran from had been stolen from a Missouri man at the nearby steakhouse. A witness identified Moore as the thief, police said.

Prosecutors charged Moore with felony receiving or possessing a stolen motor vehicle. Judge Arthur Willis released him on a recognizance bond.

A juvenile who was in the stolen car was also arrested.

Ethan Taylor was arrested when he reported for work at Navy Pier. | CPD; Pixabay

An 18-year-old waiter is facing a Class X felony arson charge for allegedly setting fire to a trash compactor at Navy Pier on Saturday night.

Police said a surveillance camera captured images of Ethan Taylor lighting a cardboard box on fire, placing it into the compactor, and then leaving the area around 11:20 p.m.

The compactor became “engulfed” in flames, police said, and the fire department was called to extinguish the blaze.

A security officer called police to arrest Taylor when he returned the next day to work at a chicken restaurant on the pier.

Prosecutors said more than 500 people were present at the time of the fire and Taylor has been charged with Class X felony aggravated arson knowing that persons are present. Class X crimes are the most serious offenses in Illinois other than murder.

Judge Arthur Willis released Taylor on a recognizance bond.

Lazerrick Hereford | CPD

• Felony charges have been filed against a Rogers Park man who allegedly tried to help a woman drive away from Northwestern Memorial Hospital with a car that had just been used to drop off two shooting victims.

Police said two men who were shot near Chicago Avenue and Lake Shore Drive around 2 a.m. on June 1st were transported to the hospital in a Toyota Camry.

Police were in the process of securing the car as a crime scene, noting that its driver’s side window had been shattered and at least one bullet hole was visible, when an unidentified woman jumped into the driver’s seat in an apparent attempt to drive away.

As cops told the woman that the vehicle was being held as a crime scene, 28-year-old Lazerrick Hereford of Rogers Park aggressively approached an officer and pushed the officer repeatedly to get him away from the car, police said.

Hereford then shut the driver’s door, so the woman could drive away and resisted officers who tried to take him into custody, police said. Officers were able to secure the car before the woman drove away.

Prosecutors charged Hereford with felony aggravated battery of a peace officer, attempted obstruction of justice by destroying evidence, and misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Judge Arthur Willis released him on a recognizance bond.

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CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com