In an unusual move, Will County prosecutors on Thursday filed carjacking and armed robbery charges against a man for crimes that he allegedly committed miles outside their county lines in Lakeview and Lincoln Park.
A spokesperson for the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office declined to comment about the case specifically but did say, “we aggressively charge cases in our jurisdiction and seek appropriate bond.”
The charges involve 28-year-old Jordan Henry of south suburban Harvey.
Around 11:20 p.m. on February 23, a gunman ordered a 69-year-old Uber driver to get out of his Volkswagen sedan on the 1800 block of West Diversey in Lakeview. Illinois State Police troopers spotted the hijacked car in traffic near the Dan Ryan Expressway and 75th Street about an hour later. The driver led troopers on a miles-long pursuit that ended when he crashed into a ditch at I-55 and I-80 in Will County, according to ISP. He got out of the car and ran, but state police dogs ran faster.
ISP canines bit Henry several times before troopers took him into custody, authorities said.
Will County prosecutors initially charged Henry with possessing a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing and eluding, and traffic charges. A Will County judge set bail at $1 million.
On Wednesday, Will County prosecutors secured a 13-count grand jury true bill charging Henry with those two crimes from Will County and carjacking the driver in Lakeview, trying to carjack another driver on the 2100 block of North Clybourn, and armed robbery of the driver on Clybourn. He is also charged with “maliciously” punching Hades, one of the police dogs that brought him into custody, court records show. Will County prosecutors presented the indictment to Henry in court Thursday.
Prosecutors in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office were not consulted before Henry was charged with the Lakeview and Lincoln Park crimes in Will County, according to a law enforcement source. A spokesperson for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said the office had no information about Henry’s case. They did not respond when asked if the office reviewed the Lakeview and Lincoln Park allegations or coordinated with Will County and Chicago police on the prosecution.
“We like high bails and low crime out here,” said a law enforcement officer who works in Will County. “That’s a little different than what you have there in Chicago.”
Henry remains jailed in Will County, according to sheriff’s office records.
