Wheeling man takes cab to gas station, robs it
A Wheeling man who took a cab to the Palatine gas station he intended to rob, and afterward practically walked into the arms of a waiting police officer, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery charges Wednesday.
Kevin Katsev, 31, was ordered to serve 94 days in jail and sentenced to 30 months mental-health probation in exchange for his plea. Mental health probation requires Katsev submit to monitoring by the probation department's mental health unit, submit to a drug and mental health evaluation and follow any recommendations, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Piper.
The judge further ordered Katsev pay $694 in fines and refrain from contact with any Speedway, Piper said.
About 2 p.m. Feb. 27, Katsev walked into the Speedway in the 1200 block of Rand Road and ordered the cashier to empty the register, prosecutors said during Katsev's bond hearing. At the same time, a Palatine police officer who saw Katsev enter the gas station noticed an idling taxi. The driver told the officer he was waiting for someone who had entered the gas station and who matched Katsev's description.
Soon after, Katsev left the gas station with a Styrofoam cup containing $471.50, prosecutors said. The officer realized a crime had occurred just as police dispatch reported a robbery at that time and location.
When Katsev emerged, the officer was waiting, prosecutors said.
Katsev's background includes convictions for misdemeanor assault in 2009, DUI and theft convictions from 2002 and 2001 and a 2009 conviction for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance for which he received 30 months probation, prosecutors said.