Central Division Categorical Use of Force NRF038-22bb

On July 20, 2022, at around 3:40pm, Hollenbeck patrol officers responded to a radio call of robbery suspects there now in the 700 block of Crocker Street. Two male suspects reportedly entered a business and demanded money from a female employee. When she refused, one of the suspects punched the victim in the chest.

Upon the officers’ arrival at scene, they located one of the suspects nearby and took him into custody without incident. Soon after, the second suspect was observed by other officers leaving the scene in a vehicle. Officers attempted a felony stop, but the suspect failed to yield, and a pursuit was initiated. After several minutes, ground units lost sight of the vehicle; however, an air unit last observed the suspect near the of 1100 block of South Grand Avenue. Hollenbeck and Central Patrol Division officers conducted a search of the parking garage of this location and ultimately observed the suspect run from the building.

Officers chased the suspect on foot and pursued him to the 1200 block of Hill Street, where he attempted to climb into the bed of a moving pickup truck. The suspect was unsuccessful and fell to the pavement. While attempting to take the suspect into custody, an officer applied force to the suspect’s neck, which was later determined to be a Categorical Use of Force. The suspect was not injured during the incident.

The suspect was transported by rescue ambulance to a local hospital due to a belief by paramedics that he had potentially ingested narcotics. He was medically cleared several hours later. Both suspects were arrested and booked for robbery.

No officers were injured during this incident.

Force Investigation Division (FID) detectives responded to the scene and are investigating this incident as a Categorical Use of Force