Second man charged in 2010 Villa Park robbery

A Chicago man has been charged with armed robbery and aggravated vehicular carjacking in connection with a December 2010 incident that took place outside a Villa Park mall, authorities said Friday.

Ammar Suleiman, 20, was arrested by Villa Park detectives Wednesday at his workplace in Chicago, Sgt. Dan McCann said in a news release.

Suleiman was taken to DuPage County jail.

McCann said Suleiman is the second man charged in connection with the crime. The first, Amine Rahmouni, then 19 of Chicago, was charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated battery and aggravated fleeing and eluding in December 2010.

Police said the case began when they were called at 10:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 2010, to the rear of North Park Mall, 300 W. North Ave., for a report of a vehicle theft in progress.

They said they arrived to find a man with a head injury who told officers he was entering his vehicle when he was approached by three men who demanded money. He told police one man was armed with a handgun and another with a pry bar.

When the man tried to escape, he told police he was struck in the head with the pry bar. One of the men stole his vehicle, he said, and the others fled.

Police said they located the stolen vehicle as it was traveling east on North Avenue at Villa Avenue. When they attempted to stop it, the driver refused to stop and they pursued him to the area of Utley Road and Rex Boulevard in Elmhurst where the suspect jumped from the moving vehicle and fled on foot.

Police said they apprehended the driver, later identified as Rahmouni. He remains in DuPage County jail awaiting trial.

The investigation continued until this week when police said they took Suleiman into custody and also found his vehicle, a 2005 Chrysler van, which police believe the suspects drove to Villa Park.

Police said their investigation now indicates only two men were involved and not three as originally reported.