Wheeling liquor store robbery leads to multi-county police chase

Two McHenry men were charged with armed robbery Monday after police say they held up a Wheeling liquor store and led authorities on a multi-county hunt late Sunday night.

The men, Tyson Burke, 27, and Kyle Larke, 17, will appear in bond court today in Rolling Meadows, Wheeling Deputy Police Chief Bill Benson said.

Benson said Burke and Larke entered the liquor store on the 800 block of South Milwaukee Avenue at 11:45 p.m. and demanded money from the clerk. Burke showed the clerk a shotgun and, after getting $200, the two fled, jumping into a waiting 1996 Ford Explorer, Benson said.

Police received a quick description of the getaway car and spotted the Explorer at Hintz and Wolf roads a short time after the robbery. A Wheeling police officer attempted to pull over the Explorer, but Burke and Larke sped away, according to Benson.

Police then ended the chase rather than risk a traffic accident, he said.

Police broadcast the vehicle description and plate number to other nearby law enforcement agencies. About 90 minutes later, a Lake Zurich police officer noticed the car and attempted to stop it, Benson said.

Other police from Lake and McHenry counties were able to pick up the trail, following the vehicle until it entered the town of McHenry, where police stopped it and arrested the suspects.

Benson said he is not sure how Larke received the injuries that appear in his picture.

"He wasn't hurt while in our custody," he said.