Man on parole for robbery charged with trying to rob off-duty cop in Loop

A South Side man who’s on parole for robbery and burglary is charged with trying to carjack an off-duty cop in the Loop on Thursday evening.

Isaias Saucedo-Ugalde | CPD

Police said Isaias Saucedo-Ugalde, 21, approached the officer in a parking garage on the 700 block of South Wabash shortly after 7 p.m. After following the victim to his car, Saucedo-Ugalde allegedly tapped the cop on his shoulder while holding his other hand under his sweater to imply that he had a gun, according to a CPD media statement.

“I have a gun,” Saucedo-Ugalde allegedly said. “I will shoot you.” Then, he demanded the victim’s car keys.

The officer tossed his keys to Saucedo-Ugalde and then tackled him, according to a police report. The cop searched Saucedo-Ugalde and held him at gunpoint until other officers arrived, according to police.

In court on Friday, prosecutors said the 22-year-old off-duty officer had been staying at the nearby Essex Hotel where many first responders are staying during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Prosecutors charged Saucedo-Ugalde with felony attempted robbery. Judge John Lyke set bail at $250,000 and ordered him to go onto electronic monitoring if he posts bail. Saucedo-Ugalde will be held without bail on a hold order from the Illinois Dept. of Corrections.

According to state records, Saucedo-Ugalde was released from prison in July 2019. He served half of a four-year sentence he received for a 2015 aggravated robbery and also served half of a three-year 2018 burglary sentence.

Police records indicate that Saucedo-Ugalde pretended to have a gun during the previous robbery, too.

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