Itasca police arrest robbery suspect

An armed robbery attempt in Itasca was interrupted early Thursday morning by a police officer doing a routine check on a convenience store.

Dennis D. Manning Jr., 23, whose last known address was in Chicago, has been charged with armed robbery, authorities said. He was arrested shortly after a robbery that occurred around 2 a.m. at a convenience store on the 900 block of Rohlwing Road.

Itasca police say an officer on routine patrol was driving through the store's parking lot when he surveyed the scene and "intuition kicked in."

"As the officer came out of his car," Itasca Deputy Police Chief Robert O'Connor said, "he sees the clerk coming out the front door at a fast pace saying he'd been robbed and the offender was still inside with two customers."

While the suspect was in the backroom, the officer evacuated the customers from the front of the store and called for backup, officials said.

As the police created a parameter around the building, O'Connor said they realized the suspect slipped out a back door and a 45-minute search ensued.

The officers ultimately located a vehicle nearby, where they discovered the suspect and the missing cash, officials said. Police wouldn't disclose the amount of money that was taken.

Manning was being held at the Itasca police station awaiting transport to DuPage County jail. A bond hearing hadn't yet been scheduled.

O'Connor said several West and Northwest suburban police departments have contacted him because Manning is a "person of interest" for crimes in their municipalities.