A man who has been arrested five times for misdemeanors since late February stole a man’s car and then crashed it in Streeterville when police tried to arrest him Monday morning, according to prosecutors and CPD records. Unlike his other five arrests, his sixth is for a felony.
Stanley Bell, 18, was ordered held in lieu of $30,000 bail Wednesday afternoon by Judge Barbara Dawkins. He must post 10% of that amount to get out of jail.
The owner of a 2020 Chevy Suburban left his keys in the car when he stopped to take some pictures around 1:45 a.m. Monday, prosecutor Steven Haamid said. While he was out of the car, Bell walked up and asked him for a lighter — then hopped into the Suburban and drove away, according to Haamid.
The victim immediately reported the car stolen, then started looking for it by following GPS signals. He found the SUV parked outside NBC Tower in Streeterville around 7:45 a.m. Bell was allegedly sleeping in the driver’s seat.
Police came to the scene and knocked on the window to wake Bell up and ordered him out of the car, Haamid said. Bell allegedly started the car, accelerated, and jumped the curb, narrowly missing two police officers.
Haamid said Bell continued driving on the sidewalk and eventually crashed into a fire hydrant. All of that was captured on video by an NBC cameraman:
Prosecutors charged Bell with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and two counts of aggravated assault of a peace officer.
Haamid said Bell had no criminal record. However, CPD arrest records show Bell has been arrested five other times in just over three months, including once last week.
He was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery on February 27, simple battery on March 21, a warrant on March 25, trespassing at the Hancock Building on May 28, and retail theft in Streeterville on June 9. The outcomes of those cases were not immediately available.
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