Teen Arrested for Robbery After Jumping from Roof to Roof

A teen armed with a “replica gun” was held on $200,000 bond Monday after being charged with stealing several items — including drumsticks, cymbals and a pink handbag — from a man and a teen girl as the man’s 8-year-old daughter watched.

Police said the man went onto the roof of a home and them jumped to another roof in his efforts to flee the scene.

Sebastian Melendez, 18, of the 2800 block of North Drake Avenue, is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, both of which are felonies, according to police.

Judge Donald Panarese set bond at $200,000 during a Monday hearing, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said. Melendez will appear for a preliminary hearing Nov. 16 in Northwest Felony Court (Br. 50).

The incident occurred Sunday at 1:55 a.m. at 2888 N. Milwaukee Ave. when Melendez, allegedly armed with a “replica gun’’ took cell phones, $300 cash, cymbals and drumsticks worth $600 and a pink handbag from a 31-year-old man and a 17-year-old female who were walking, according to police.

The man's 8-year-old daughter witnessed the robbery. After the robbery, someone saw Melendez running into a home a few blocks away. Responding officers went to the home where officers spoke with Melendez’s father who let officers inside, according to police.

Melendez went onto the roof of the home and then jumped to the roof of an adjacent building. He then allegedly hid in an enclosed rear porch of the building he jumped to, where officers found him, according to police.

The property and money was found inside Melenedez’s room and no one was hurt, police said.
Grand Central Area detectives were investigating.