Cops: Man fired bullet into floor during Elgin restaurant holdup

A 45-year-old Elgin man is in custody after police said he walked into a Little Caesar's Pizza late Sunday night, fired a bullet into the floor and robbed the restaurant.

Charles Fleming entered the restaurant, 551 N. McLean Blvd., just after 11 p.m., said Elgin police spokeswoman Sue Olafson.

One of the employees was able to call police during the holdup, and officers arrived while Fleming was still in the restaurant, Olafson said.

Fleming, of the 300 block of Washington Street, tried to flee on foot but was caught less than a block from the restaurant. police said.

Neither employee was struck by the bullet or injured during the holdup, but both were taken to an area hospital as a precaution, Olafson said.

Authorities said Fleming threw the gun while being chased, but police were able to recover the weapon.

Fleming, who is scheduled to appear in bond court Tuesday morning, has been charged with four counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of armed robbery and two counts of armed violence.