Off-duty Schaumburg cop thwarts armed robbery, makes arrest

An off-duty Schaumburg police officer, who witnessed an attempted armed robbery, disarmed the suspect and restrained the 16-year-old boy until on-duty officers could respond, is not seeking any special recognition for his actions, officials said.

"He doesn't consider it to be that big of a deal and would prefer to remain anonymous," Lt. Shawn Green, the department's public information officer, said. "It was just in his DNA to act."

The officer thwarted the armed robbery on Tuesday afternoon. A news release issued Friday gave this account:

The officer had just returned to his car after finishing a workout at the Meineke Recreation Center at 220 E. Weathersfield Way when he saw the boy armed with a retractable knife and brass knuckles demand money from a victim in the parking lot near an entrance to the fitness center. The victim ran into the building as the offender chased the person.

The officer followed them into the building, where he confronted the offender and told him he was an off-duty police officer. He ordered the teen to put his hands in the air. The offender refused and the officer moved to disarm him and bring him to the ground.

The officer was then aided by two passers-by in keeping the offender pinned to the ground until on-duty police, who were on their way thanks to a park district staff member who called 911, could arrive.

The boy was charged with attempted armed robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated battery to a peace officer, resisting a peace officer, and criminal damage to property and was referred to juvenile court, according to the release.

The officer suffered minor injuries in the struggle but Green said he was able to disarm the teen before he was able to inflict any damage with the knife.