CONNECTING THE DOTS
CPD trying to piece together string of carjackings, robberies across city in 24- hourwindow
Detectives believe two men who were charged Tuesday may be responsible for a rash of carjackings across the city that occurred in a 24hour window Sunday into Monday.
Police Supt. Eddie Johnson put would- be copycats on notice: “We simply will not tolerate you carjacking the citizens of the city.”
Detectives are trying to determine whether Davontae Jones, 18, and Jason Dortch, 19, committed at least 12 brazen carjackings and robberies that occurred Sunday and Monday before police spotted them in a stolen SUV about 9: 30 p. m. in the 800 block of North Racine.
On Tuesday night, Jones and Dortch, both of the Lawndale neighborhood, were charged with a felony count of aggravated vehicular hijacking, police said. They were expected to appear in bond court Wednesday.
Officers chased the stolen vehicle onto the Eisenhower Expressway on Monday night. When the men bailed out of the car on the highway near Austin Boulevard in Oak Park, officers gave chase on foot, finally collaring both men.
A gun with an extended clip and stolen property were recovered at the scene, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
Two officerswho crashed their car during the chase suffered minor injuries from broken glass, he said.
“If you come out there and you think you’re going to continue to carjack, you’re wrong. We’re going to come after you with everything we have, everything at our disposal, and we will get you because this simply will not be tolerated in the city of Chicago,” Johnson said.
His commentswere partially aimed at a number of juveniles fromtheWest Side who’ve played a part in the rising number of carjackings in the city, which so far this year total 760.
Guglielmi said 180 arrests have been made in those cases. Last year, 177 arrests were made in 663 carjackings, he said. But he could not say how many of those arrests resulted in charges.
“We do know there’s been an increase in juvenile offenders committing this crime,” Johnson said, noting that detectives have determined the teens are largely from West Side neighborhoods.
In response, Johnson is sending police staff to schools in these areas “to find out what’s the driving force behind it.” Johnson’s emissaries: Robin Robinson, a former television news anchor who’s now employed by the police department as a community affairs adviser, and Dwayne Betts, deputy chief community policing.
The duo already regularly visit high schools in high- crime neighborhoods to discuss gun violence.
“Juvenile justice is a complex issue,” Johnson said. “We recognize that their minds are not fully developed, but at the same time there has to be a consequence for those actions. We cannot wait for individuals to age out of committing those types of crimes.”
“WE SIMPLY WILL NOT TOLERATE YOU CARJACKING THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.” POLICE SUPT. EDDIE JOHNSON