Chicago — Prosecutors say a man on probation for mugging a 90-year-old man robbed a woman who was seated in a wheelchair in Uptown this week. Chicago police officers monitoring a nearby surveillance camera saw the whole thing go down and sent cops to make the arrest.
At around 5:45 p.m. Monday, the victim, a 55-year-old woman, was seated in her electric wheelchair in the 1100 block of West Argyle when Richard Bellamy walked up and started a conversation, prosecutors said.
During Bellamy’s bail hearing on Tuesday, an assistant state’s attorney said that he and the women are acquaintances but don’t know each other well.
As Chicago police officers watched the feed from a nearby “blue light” camera, Bellamy, 54, allegedly reached for the woman’s tablet, which was on her lap, and walked away with her purse, which had been draped over her legs.
The victim tried to stop Bellamy, but he got away. Meanwhile, the CPD surveillance team dispatched patrol officers and directed them to Bellamy. He still had the woman’s purse when the cops caught him, prosecutors said.
He’s charged with robbery of a handicapped person.
Bellamy is on probation for mugging an elderly man in the Irving Park neighborhood two years ago.
In that case, officials said Bellamy pushed a 90-year-old man to the ground and took the victim’s wallet in the 4100 block of West Irving Park. Once again, Bellamy still had the victim’s property when the cops caught him.
Judge Maryam Ahmad held Bellamy in lieu of a $15,000 bail payment on Tuesday afternoon. She also ordered him to go on electronic monitoring if he is released. Separately, Ahmad held Bellamy without bail for violating probation. The judge handling the Irving Park robbery case will review Bellamy’s bail status this week.
Facts first. 100% reader-funded. Click here to support CWBChicago today.
