A man arrested five times over the past year, only to have prosecutors drop charges every time, has been arrested for the sixth time for allegedly burglarizing a car and trespassing in Wrigleyville. It’s the third time someone has accused him of burglary or breaking into cars in the neighborhood since last October.
Police responded to a call of two men climbing on the back porch of a Chicago Cubs rooftop club in the 1000 block of West Waveland around 9:15 p.m on October 23. Around the same time, a witness reported seeing an apparent auto burglary in an alley behind the 3700 block of North Seminary.
Officers found Xavier Topel, 21, walking in the alley with a bag and clothing. Cops said he was carrying a wallet, purse, and hoodie that had been left in a car that was parked nearby, prosecutors said.
Topel, who is now charged with burglary and criminal trespass, was released on a recognizance bond by Judge Susana Ortiz. She ordered him to stay in the house between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., but Ortiz did not order him to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.
Court records show Topel has enjoyed great success in the Cook County judicial system over the past year.
On August 12, a Wrigleyville woman was awakened by a man who cut out her window screen and climbed through a rear window. Police tackled Topel as ran from the scene, according to a CPD report that says the woman identified Topel as the intruder.
But Topel was only charged with resisting police. Prosecutors dropped the case on the next court date, September 23.
On August 6, police responded to a call of four teens — including one who reportedly had a gun — threatening people in Rogers Park. Officers stopped a group of young men on bikes, including Topel, for questioning. Cops said they found a crowbar and a serrated knife in his backpack after he gave them permission to search the bag.
Prosecutors charged Topel with city charges of possessing burglary tools and possessing a deadly weapon. The case was dropped on October 14.
During widespread riots and looting on May 30, Topel was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct by unlawful assembly in River North. Prosecutors dropped the case on August 10.
On March 10, police said Topel was the back seat passenger of a stolen car that they pulled over for a traffic violation on the Far North Side. Prosecutors charged him with criminal trespass to a vehicle. The charge was dropped on September 28.
And, on October 14, 2019, police stopped Topel after they allegedly saw him trying to open the back passenger doors of parked vehicles on the 1100 block of West Waveland, according to a CPD arrest report. Cops said Topel began spitting at them when they asked for his ID.
Prosecutors charged him with two counts of aggravated assault. Those charges were dropped one month later.
We’ll keep an eye on the pending case and report back when there’s a resolution.