A Lakeview family received a very rude awakening late Sunday when a suspected looter — who just happens to be a violent paroled felon — broke into their home and hid in their 10-year-old’s room, according to police records. An alleged accomplice, also a paroled violent felon, was arrested nearby with a handgun.
Police handled widespread looting reports across the city that night. A series of 911 calls late Sunday reported suspicious activity near the three-way intersection of Belmont, Lincoln, and Ashland.
At 11:48 p.m., officers responded to a report of cars lined up with suspected looters outside the Target store at 3300 North Ashland. Officers found three vehicles parked in an alley near the store’s rear loading doors, a police spokesperson said. The cars sped away as cops approached.
Police pursued the cars and three men jumped out of one vehicle and fled on foot near the intersection of Lincoln and Wellington moments later, said Sally Bown, a CPD public information officer.
Two of them were apprehended quickly after a short foot chase, Bown said.
Ricky L. Green, 26, is charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon and possessing a firearm with a defaced serial number, according to court records. Green was paroled out of the Sheridan Correctional Center in December after he served half of a five-year sentence that he received for being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2017. Green previously received a seven-year sentence for armed robbery in 2013.
A judge ordered him held in lieu of $200,000 for the Lakeview incident. He’s also being held without bail as the Illinois Department of Corrections considers revocation of his parole. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is considering federal charges against Green, according to a law enforcement source.
Antwan Sharkey, 22, was arrested with Green. Prosecutors charged him with curfew violation and he went free on a recognizance bond.
Meanwhile, police conducted a yard-to-yard search for the third man. They eventually found him as he walked out of a home on the 1400 block of West Wellington, Bown said. He had been hiding in a child’s room inside the home and even took time to make a phone call while he hunkered down, according to a source.
Jeremy Ben, 30, is charged with criminal trespass to a residence while knowing persons are present and curfew violation. A judge set his bail at $50,000. He is also held without bail while IDOC considers revoking his parole.
“What’s disturbing is a home invasion charge wasn’t considered,” a source said. “You’d think a convicted felon breaking into a house and hiding in a child’s room would be serious.”
Ben was also recently paroled out of the Sheridan Correctional Center. State records show he was released on February 10 after he served half of a 21-year sentence for armed robbery with a firearm.
Police also recovered stolen property during the arrests, Bown said.
