Bail set at $3 million in Des Plaines carjacking, robbery
Bail was set at $3 million Friday morning for a Chicago man accused of carjacking a Rosemont taxicab and robbing a Subway sandwich shop in Des Plaines early Wednesday before leading police on an hourlong chase through numerous suburbs, finally crashing into a school bus on Chicago’s North Side.
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.
Hampton was not present in court Friday as he remains at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston recovering from a broken pelvis suffered in the crash.
Judge Larry Axelrood said considering Hampton’s extensive and violent criminal history and the serious nature of the charges he saw it fit to set a high bail to protect the public and keep the Chicago man off the streets.
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.
Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini has said Hampton is a flight risk and authorities would like to transfer him to Cermak, the hospital attached to Cook County jail, as soon as possible.
Hampton’s next court appearance is set for 9 a.m. Feb. 9 at the Cook County courthouse in Skokie.
Authorities say Hampton entered a taxi about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday near the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rosemont and instructed the driver, Ilias Papaioannou, 65, to take him to a Subway restaurant on the 2000 block of Miner Street in Des Plaines.
While the driver waited outside, Hampton entered the store, stepped behind the counter and tried to get into the store’s cash register, police said. He was confronted by store clerk Jose Santiago, 34, who exchanged blows with the Hampton before the suspect ran out of the store as Santiago gave chase, authorities allege. Police say Hampton then punched Papaioannou, stole the keys to the cab and sped away.
Morton Grove police officers saw the cab about 5:50 a.m., sparking an hourlong chase that ended in Chicago when the speeding minivan cab was clipped by a school bus at 6:56 a.m. and spun into a light pole. Chicago police captured Hampton as he tried to run away, authorities said.