An Old Town man who robbed a restaurant near his home at gunpoint last week was arrested after detectives tracked his get-away via a network of public and private surveillance cameras, prosecutors said.
Leon Flowers, age 50, is charged with felony armed robbery with a firearm. Judge David Navarro ordered him held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Flowers walked into the Dunkin’ Donuts at 333 West North Avenue around 1 p.m. Thursday and ordered some pastries, prosecutors said in bond court Sunday. When the employee turned to get his order, Flowers allegedly pulled out a handgun, racked the slide, and pointed it at the clerk.
The worker removed the cash drawer from the register and gave it to Flowers, who collected about $200 cash and walked out the door, according to prosecutors.
A witness reported seeing the robber run into a parking lot across the street from the restaurant. Detectives then collected surveillance video from a police POD camera and nearby residential security systems that showed the robber entered the back door of a nearby apartment building with a key.
Police showed photos of the robber to two managers of the apartment building. Both allegedly identified the offender as one of the building’s residents — Flowers.
Cops executed a search warrant on Flowers’ apartment and found a Blackhawks hat and shoes that are identical to those worn by the robber, according to prosecutors.
Police said Flowers admitted to robbing the store and told them that he threw the gun into a dumpster.
Flowers’ defense attorney said he works as a doorman for a Near North condo building.
