St. Charles teen charged in school robbery

Police have apprehended a St. Charles teen they said was trying to leave the state and who they believe is involved with a recent strong-arm robbery at Munhall Elementary School in St. Charles.

Robert A. Pruett, 18, of the 1100 block of Motz Street, was arrested Oct. 26 by the North Central Narcotics Task Force as he fled east on Interstate 294 at Interstate 80, police said Thursday. At the time, he was wanted on charges of forgery for a check police said he presented Oct. 26 at West Suburban Bank, 3000 E. Main St., St. Charles.

Pruett was traveling with Rachael A. Sturkey, 21, of the 1500 block of Patricia Lane in St. Charles. She was also charged with one count of forgery.

St. Charles Police said an investigation links Pruett to an incident that occurred the evening of Sept. 29 at Munhall, 1400 S. 13th Ave. A custodian working in the building heard voices in the cafeteria. The custodian was approached by three young males upon investigating the source of the voices. At that point, one of the men punched the custodian in the head and threw him to the ground, the police report indicates. A second man then stole the custodian’s wallet while a third person stood and watched. The offenders then fled the building.

Police believe one of the men was Pruett. He’s been charged with robbery and was being held at the Kane County jail on $55,000 bail. He would need to pay $5,500 to be released.

The investigation continues to identify other individuals involved with the Munhall robbery. Anyone with information is asked to call the St. Charles Police Department’s Investigation Unit at (630) 377-4435. A reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.