Man charged in Des Plaines carjacking, Subway robbery

Charges were filed Thursday against a Chicago man who authorities say carjacked a Rosemont taxi and robbed a Subway sandwich shop in Des Plaines before an hourlong chase through numerous suburbs that ended with a crash in Chicago early Wednesday.

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, said Andy Conklin, Cook County state’s attorney’s office spokesman.

Hampton, who is being treated at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston for a broken pelvis from the crash, is scheduled for a bond hearing at 9 a.m. Friday at the Skokie courthouse.

Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini said authorities would like to transfer Hampton to Cermak, the hospital attached to Cook County jail, as soon as possible.

Prandini said Hampton is a flight risk considering his extensive criminal history.

Hampton has been arrested 27 times, including on charges of vehicular hijacking and aggravated battery. He’s also been convicted on robbery, burglary and drug-related charges. Hampton was last arrested in August for a probation violation, Prandini said.

Police said 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 he ran out of the store with Santiago chasing him, authorities allege. Police say Hampton then punched Papaioannou, stole the keys to the cab and took off.

Morton Grove police officers saw the cab about 5:50 a.m. The hourlong chase ended with a crash 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 flee, authorities said.

Hampton also has a court date at 9 a.m. Feb. 9 at the Skokie courthouse.