Man accused in Des Plaines carjacking, robbery pleads not guilty

A Chicago man accused of hijacking a Rosemont taxicab and robbing a Subway sandwich shop in Des Plaines in January pleaded not guilty today, a spokesman with the Cook County state’s attorney’s office said.

Larry Hampton, 40, of the 10700 block of South Prairie Avenue, is charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated battery, aggravated fleeing and eluding and aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Following the carjacking and robbery, Hampton led police on an hourlong chase through numerous suburbs before crashing into a school bus on Chicago’s North Side, according to authorities.

Hampton suffered a broken pelvis in the crash and was treated at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. He has been at the Cook County jail since his release from the hospital. Skokie Judge Larry Axelrood set Hampton’s bail at $3 million on Jan. 28 citing his extensive and violent criminal history and the serious nature of the charges against him.

Hampton has 27 prior arrests, including on charges of vehicular hijacking and aggravated battery. His record includes convictions for robbery, burglary and drug-related charges. He was arrested in August for violating an 18-month probation sentence.

His next court appearance is set for April 19 in Courtroom 206 before Judge Garritt Howard at the Skokie courthouse.