Authorities: Man robbed acquaintance after they smoked marijuana in Elgin

What began as a couple of acquaintances smoking marijuana together turned violent when one of the men demanded money and drugs from the other, then beat him, prosecutors said.

Cecil R. Palmer, 26, was arrested Sunday and charged with armed robbery with a firearm in the attack on a 20-year-old Elgin man. Palmer, who has two felony convictions, was ordered held on $100,000 bail Tuesday. Prosecutors said Palmer lives Hanover Park, while police provided an Elgin address for him.

Palmer was at the Elgin man's house when the victim told Palmer he had been saving for a car and kept the money in a safe, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Caitlin Casey. At that point, Casey said, Palmer pulled out a gun and demanded money and marijuana from the man.

A struggle ensued, during which Palmer pistol-whipped the man, who was hospitalized with "significant lacerations to the back of his head requiring staples," Casey said.

After the man opened the safe, Palmer took money and marijuana and left, authorities said. He next appears in court on Feb. 8.