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Three suspects in carjacking are arrested at probation office

BY MARIA BARAN - News-Democrat

BELLEVILLE -- Three men in a bright blue Lexus missed their check-in at the probation office Tuesday when they were arrested in connection with a vehicular hijacking from earlier in the day.

About 1:30 p.m., an unknown number of armed men reportedly jumped out of a bright blue 300 G5 Lexus and stole a burgundy 1985 Oldsmobile from the 1400 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard in East St. Louis, St. Clair County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Thomas Trice said.

Police radio broadcasts alerted authorities that they were searching for the Oldsmobile, which had chrome wheels and a white ragtop, and the Lexus described as "candy apple blue."

Trice, who was with the department's Street Crimes Unit conducting a warrant sweep in East St. Louis, spotted the brightly colored Lexus about 3:30 p.m. headed east on Illinois 15. He followed the car until it got off at the Illinois 159 exit.

Trice turned on his police lights for a felony traffic stop, and the car pulled into the St. Clair County Probation Department, 11 W. Lincoln St.

Trice said three men were inside the car and one yelled: "We're coming here. We're on our way to probation."

The three men were arrested and taken to the East St. Louis Police Department for questioning in connection with the vehicular hijacking.

Police were still searching for the hijacked Oldsmobile.

Contact reporter Maria Baran at mbaran@bnd.com or 239-2460.

Two charged, two others in custody in Signal Hill armed carjacking

Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008

Two charged, two others in custody in Signal Hill armed carjacking

BY JACQUELINE LEE - News-Democrat

Two East St. Louis men, a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old, were charged Wednesday in connection with an armed carjacking Sunday that ended in a car crash, injuring two people.

The carjacking occurred about 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of Signal Hill Boulevard in unincorporated Belleville.

Dominique M. Carraway, 17, of 7005 Evergreen Court, was charged with felony aggravated vehicular hijacking, armed robbery and unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, Capt. Steven Johnson of the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department said in a news release.

Kerion L. Edwards, Dominique M. Carraway - Provided to BND

Carraway is being held at the St. Clair County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Teenager is jailed in armed carjacking near Belleville

BY JACQUELINE LEE - News-Democrat

St. Clair County sheriff's deputies have taken a 17-year-old Centreville teen into custody, and are interviewing a second suspect in an armed carjacking Sunday that ended in a car crash, injuring two people.

Deputies, who are also looking for at least two other suspects, did not release the name of the teenager, pending charges. He is being held at the county jail and investigators plan to apply for charges today, Capt. Steven Johnson said in a news release.

The carjacking occurred about 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of Signal Hill Boulevard in unincorporated Belleville.

"Using technology and good old fashion police work the suspect was arrested, interviewed and an item taken in the carjacking was recovered," Johnson stated.

The victim, a Belleville resident, told police that he was leaving his girlfriend's house when three or four men -- armed with a semi-automatic pistol and possibly a long rifle or shotgun -- ordered him out of his 2005 Ford Escape. They took a small amount of cash and personal items from him, and drove away in the vehicle.

The victim described the main suspect as 17-24 years old and about 5-foot-8, Johnson said. He had a small, silver semi-automatic pistol, and was wearing a dark hoodie and a dark-colored bandanna on his face. The second suspect had an unknown gun with a small barrel with a wooden stock. The third suspect wore a red or orange hoodie that had black markings on it. There may have been a fourth suspect.

The suspects ran away before police arrived after they crashed the stolen vehicle into another vehicle at Lake Drive at Illinois 157 in Centreville. The driver and a passenger of the vehicle that was hit were taken to an area hospital.

Anyone with information is asked to call the St. Louis Area CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477 (TIPS), which is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the suspects' arrests, or the Sheriff's Department at 277-3505.

Armed Carjacking Suspects from Signal Hill Boulevard

Victims Injured during vehicle crash

On 11-23-08 at 6:30 PM Deputies were dispatched to a carjacking which occurred on the 100 block of Signal Hill Blvd in unincorporated Belleville. Deputies arrived within six minutes and spoke to the 17 year old victim and his girlfriend. The victim stated he was leaving his girlfriend’s house and started his car up because it was cold. The victim lives in Belleville. He was sitting in it when three subjects (and possibly a fourth) walked up to him. They all had hoods over their heads and bandanas around their faces. One subject pointed a silver semi-automatic pistol at him and ordered him out of the car. The second subject had a long rifle or shotgun. He lay on the ground as directed and they stole a small amount of cash and other personal items from him. They then drove away in his vehicle (2005 Ford Escape) very fast.

During the carjacking the victim believed the men were black males. They also continually yelled orders at him, using derogatory words which usually are directed at African Americans (the “N” word). The subjects’ descriptions are:

1. Main suspect (with handgun) – dark hoodie, approximately 17 to 24 y/o, dark colored bandana (maybe blue or black) on face, roughly about his height – 5’8 or 5’9, Gun – small, silver automatic

2. Second suspect (rifle/shotgun/bb gun) – unknown gun – small barrel with a wooden stock

3. Third suspect – bright colored hoodie (red or orange) some kind of black marks on it (stars?)

4. Possible fourth suspect unknown.

While the Deputies were responding to the carjacking scene a traffic crash with injuries occurred on Lake Drive at Route 157, Centreville. The vehicle which had been carjacked caused the crash and ran into another vehicle. The driver and a passenger in the other vehicle were injured and were transported to a local hospital.

Deputies and Centreville Police responded to the traffic crash scene but the suspects ran away prior to their arrival. An ISPERN broadcast was sent and numerous law enforcement agencies searched the area.

During the search Centreville Police and E. St. Louis Police arrested 10 subjects near Marybelle Avenue and 73^rd Street. A handgun and shotgun were discovered in their possession. Investigators from the Sheriff’s Department were called in and interviewed the 10 subjects throughout the night. At this time their involvement in the carjacking is undetermined.

While investigating the incident an abandoned stolen vehicle (Silver 2003 Pontiac Grand Am) was located on Powder Creek Road just south of Foley Drive. This was in close proximity to the carjacking. The vehicle had extensive front end damage and the ignition was punched. The vehicle had been reported stolen from Centreville on 11-22-08 at 11:00 PM to Centreville Police. During a canvas of the neighborhood a neighbor had seen several subjects walking in the area with hoods over their heads and didn’t think anything of it.

The carjacked vehicle and the recovered stolen vehicle are both being processed by Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services and several items of evidence are being turned over to the Crime Lab for analysis. The Metro East Auto Theft Task Force and Investigators from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department are co-working the investigation.

Anyone who has any information about possible suspects is asked to call Inv. Mike Hundelt at 618-277-3505 x5716 or the St. Louis Area Crime Stoppers at 866-371-8477 (TIPS). If Crime Stoppers is called up to a $1,000.00 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of suspects.

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Captain Steve Johnson

Chief Investigator

Criminal Investigation Section

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department

618-277-3505 x5715

Pursuit Ends in Suspect Dying in Crash

PRESS RELEASE

October 14^th, 2008

Pursuit Ends in Suspect Dying in Crash

On 10-14-08 at 2:20 AM a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deputy saw a vehicle (2002 Chrysler) disobey a stop sign at 15^th at Lynch, E. St. Louis. The Deputy stopped the vehicle for the violation. When the Deputy approached the vehicle the driver placed the vehicle in reverse and attempted to run over the Deputy. The Deputy leaped out of the way, barely avoiding being ran over. The driver then put the vehicle in forward and sped away very fast. The Deputy ran to his car and pursued the suspect vehicle and called on the police radio for other units. The suspect vehicle made several evasive turns but lost control and skidded over a curb near 15^th and Summit. Deputies started to approach the vehicle but the driver put the vehicle in reverse and rammed his car into a Sheriff’s Squad car. The suspect vehicle then left the scene again. Deputies continued to try and stop the vehicle.

The suspect vehicle continued fleeing from Deputies and Deputies began to loose sight of the vehicle. Due to the suspect’s dangerous driving Deputies backed away and temporarily lost sight of the vehicle. Deputies saw the vehicle again as it became involved in a traffic crash in the 1900/2000 block of St. Louis Ave, E. St. Louis at railroad tracks. Deputies ran up to the driver but found him pinned inside the vehicle. EMS and the Fire Department were dispatched. The suspect was later transported to Kenneth Hall Hospital and later pronounced deceased.

To ensure a fair and impartial investigation, Illinois State Police Accident Reconstructionist were called to the scene to handle the investigation. They found in the suspect vehicle a stolen .380 semi-automatic pistol, crack cocaine, marijuana and Ecstasy pills. The deceased suspect also has a substantial drug criminal history and a suspended driver’s license.

The total incident is still under investigation by Sheriff’s Investigators and Illinois State Police. The deceased suspect’s name is not being released at this time to ensure family members have been contacted first. Please contact the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office when that information is released.

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Captain Steve Johnson

Chief Investigator

Criminal Investigation Section

St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department

618-277-3505 x5715

Attempt to recover impounded car lands suspect in jail

Dartayous Moore

BY JENNIFER A. BOWEN

News-Democrat

An East St. Louis man is in jail in connection with the attempted theft of radiators, car batteries and CD players from cars on a Cahokia car lot.

Dartayous Moore, 29, of 2902 Waverly, Apt. 308, has been charged by the St. Clair County State's Attorney with felony theft in connection with the attempted theft at the American Motors at 3001 Camp Jackson Road in Cahokia Sept. 7.

A night watchman at the car lot saw a vehicle pull into the car lot about 2:30 a.m. and watched as a man got out of the car and started stealing things from the lot and loading them into his car. The man managed to get his hands on two aluminum radiators, 25 car batteries and six compact disk players before the night watchman could run over from his post and stop the theft in progress, according to St. Clair County Sheriff's Capt. Steve Johnson.

The night watchman ordered the man to stop loading the stolen goods into his car and informed him 9-1-1 had been called and police were on their way. When the suspect tried to climb into his car to get away, the watchman wasn't sure if he was going for a weapon so he pulled his gun and fired a shot into the air, according to the police report.

The suspect took off running, leaving his car and all the stolen goods behind. Evidence in the car was traced back to Moore and the car towed to the county's impound lot.

On Sept. 10, Moore called the sheriff's department to try to get his car out of the impound lot. Investigator Scott Toth, the investigator assigned to the case, took the call from Moore. Toth told Moore he could come on by the department to get the car out of impound and on Monday, Moore showed up at the department and was arrested.

Moore remains in the St. Clair County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Contact reporter Jennifer A. Bowen at jbowen@bnd.com or 239-2667