Man charged in Prospect Hts. burglary
Prospect Heights police have arrested a 23-year-old North Chicago man who they say broke into an apartment early Sunday morning and threatened to kill the resident with a screwdriver.
Phillip J. Mims, 23, of the 1700 block of Sheridan Road in North Chicago, is charged with one count of residential burglary — a Class 1 felony.
According to police, Mims admitted going to the apartment on the 700 block of Piper Lane, climbing onto the second floor patio and breaking into the locked home of the victim, who was a former friend of his girlfriend's family.
Mims told police he went to the apartment to settle a score and was going to beat him up.
Police got a call at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, from the resident, saying there was an unknown man in his house, armed with a screwdriver and threatening to kill him.
The suspect fled the apartment into a surrounding parking lot. A Prospect Heights police officer in the area saw a man matching his description getting into a 1994 Saturn, and pulled the car over before it could leave.
Mims was the driver and was positively identified as the offender, police said, adding he also was wanted on an outstanding no-bond warrant from the Illinois Depart of Corrections for parole violation. A large screwdriver was found on the floor of the vehicle in front of the driver's seat, police said. Mims and two other occupants were taken to the Prospect Heights Police Department, although the other two were not charged.
Bond was set Monday morning at $60,000. Mims is expected to appear at the Rolling Meadows courthouse Jan. 28.