An 18-year-old who was sentenced to 18 months in juvenile detention last year was back on the streets to commit another armed carjacking and try to rob a fast food restaurant this week, prosecutors said during a bond hearing Wednesday.
“Just last year, you committed a very similar offense,” Judge Charles Beach told Monte Handley before ordering him held without bail.
Prosecutors said Handley was adjudicated delinquent for aggravated vehicular hijacking last year, aggravated robbery in 2020, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle in 2020.
The alleged carjacking took place around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday on the 5000 block of West Kolin, a residential street about a half-mile from Midway Airport.
A 26-year-old woman was removing her 1-year-old child from her car when Handley pulled up next to her in a car and got out with a gun in his hand, Assistant State’s Attorney Loukas Kalliantasis said.
Handley pointed the gun at the woman and her adult companion and threatened to shoot them if they didn’t surrender their property, Kalliantasis alleged.
After Handley took their valuables, an accomplice stepped out of his car, took his gun, and drove away with the vehicle he arrived in, Kalliantasis continued. Handley allegedly fled in the victim’s car.
Early the following day, Handley drove the victim’s car into a Taco Bell drive-thru on the South Side and tried to rob the cashier, Kalliantasis said. Handley allegedly grabbed the employee through the window and ordered him to turn over everything in the register as they engaged in a “tug of war” over a computer monitor. Handley, wearing a ski mask, drove away before getting anything, Kalliantasis said.
Illinois State Police troopers spotted the hijacked car in traffic and tried to pull it over, Kalliantasis said, but the driver sped away. Handley allegedly ran from the driver’s seat after the vehicle crashed into a street sign. Police arrested him nearby.
Kalliantasis said Handley admitted to the Taco Bell robbery, which was captured on video. The carjacking victim’s adult companion picked Handley out of a photo lineup, but the victim made an incorrect identification in a photo array, according to Kalliantasis.
Prosecutors charged Handley with aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, attempted robbery, three counts of aggravated fleeing, and several driving-related misdemeanors.
He is due back in court on January 26.