CHICAGO — Roscoe Village residents teamed up to help a 17-year-old neighbor detain an armed man who tried to steal his car on Tuesday evening, Chicago police say.
Andre Rogers, 21, was trying to steal the teen’s Nissan in the 3400 block of North Claremont when the boy intervened around 9:12 p.m., a CPD spokesperson said. The confrontation turned physical, and Rogers allegedly fought the boy until other people stepped in and his mother called 911.
“The offender was detained by local citizens until police arrived,” said the spokesperson.
When cops arrived, they found the 17-year-old pinning Rogers to the ground and noticed Rogers, who was still wearing a ski mask, had something in his hand.
“What are you holding?” an officer asked.
“A firearm,” Rogers replied, according to his arrest report.
Police said they recovered a loaded handgun from under Rogers and a leather holster from his waistband.
The report explained that the 17-year-old was a Lane Tech student who lost his keys earlier in the day. When his parents arrived to pick him up, the boy saw his car’s headlights come on as if someone had activated the key fob, CPD’s arrest report said. He moved in and detained Rogers as Rogers approached his car. The police said Rogers had the boy’s keys in his possession.
Rogers, who lives in Rogers Park, is charged with felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a firearm, receiving or possessing a stolen motor vehicle, and possessing a controlled substance. He is also charged with misdemeanor theft of lost or mislaid property and possession of cannabis.
Judge Maryam Ahmad ordered Rogers to pay a $700 bail deposit to be released on electronic monitoring.