Verizon theft suspect accused of stealing dozens of cell phones, other items totaling $37,000 – NBC Chicago

One of two armed robbery suspects who sparked a massive manhunt in the west suburbs has been charged with several crimes, including allegedly stealing more than $37,000 worth of cellphones and other devices electronics at a Verizon store.

Diamonte Walls, 25, of Chicago, charged with armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, appeared at a hearing in DuPage County Court where a judge denied bail, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. Friday.

Prosecutors alleged that Walls, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a black mask, entered the Verizon store along Lake Street in Addison on Thursday with a gun and ordered customers to stand. sleep while employees gave him goods. He then allegedly gave trash bags to the employees and ordered them to fill the bags with merchandise before fleeing, according to authorities.

His accomplice, who prosecutors say pretended to be a customer lying on the ground, fled the scene in a gray Toyota, while Walls took off in a white Infiniti, driven by another person, prosecutors said. responsible. Officers then located the Infiniti along Interstate 290 near St. Charles Road, at which point the vehicle continued traveling south before exiting the highway and stopping near Elm Street and Fuller Road. Walls and the other person then ran from the vehicle, police said.

Walls was located in a backyard a block from where authorities found a black trash bin containing electronics worth more than $37,000, including 30 iPhones, two Galaxy phones, four iPads and an Apple Watch. A Taurus G2C 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber was found in the front yard of the neighboring home, authorities said.

As of Friday evening, authorities were still working to identify the second robbery suspect.