Prosecutors: Man charged with murder used dog to carjack taxi
Michael S. Jorgensen, 29, used a dog to attack a taxi driver on the Near North Side and steal his cab before he sped away and got into a fatal crash with a 69- year- old-woman, prosecutors said Friday.
Shortly before 10: 45 p. m. Tuesday, a 21- year- old man who works as a taxi driver spotted Jorgensen walking a dog and acting suspiciously in a parking lot at 211W. Walton St., prosecutors said.
The taxi driver alerted an employee of a restaurant where he had just dined and got back into his cab, prosecutors said. When Jorgensen was approached by the restaurant worker, Jorgensen “let his dog loose” on the restaurant worker, who then ran to the 21- yearold’s taxi and got inside.
Jorgensen followed and let the dog into the taxi, where it attacked the taxi driver, biting him on the neck and chest, prosecutors said. Jorgensen went to the driver’s side of the cab and dragged the 21- year- old out.
Jorgensen got inside the taxi and sped away, Chicago Police said.
Less than a half mile away, Jorgensen sped through a red light and slammed into a vehicle driven by Perla Carandang, 69. She was later pronounced dead.
Jorgensen had a blood alcohol level of 0.275 after the crash and also tested positive for cocaine and amphetamines, prosecutors said.
Jorgensen is a U. S. Army veteran who served from 2009- 2013, his attorney said. He was denied bond.
Dead man found in burning car in Mt. Prospect
A man was found dead inside a burning car early Friday in northwest suburban Mount Prospect.
Authorities were called about the car fire at 12: 03 a. m. in the 1700 block of West Algonquin Road, according to a statement from Mount Prospect police.
Investigators have determined the fire and the man’s death were “suspicious in nature,” but theman has not yet been identified, police said.
Anyone with information should call ( 847) 870- 5654.
Man critically wounded in Humboldt Park shooting
A man was critically wounded Friday evening in a West Side shooting in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. The 19- year- old was shot in the abdomen at 6: 11 p. m. in the 3900 block of West Potomac, according to Chicago Police.