Englewood man charged with robbery of 80-year-old in Evanston - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

A 19-year-old man from the South Side Englewood neighborhood has been charged with multiple criminal counts ranging from robbery to fleeing and eluding police, after he allegedly snatched a purse from an 80-year-old woman in Evanston earlier this week.

The 80-year-old woman's purse was taken by force on Tuesday at Custer Avenue and Main Street in Evanston, as she was walking from a Charter One Bank branch, according to police.

On Wednesday night, Evanston police tactical officers saw a vehicle being driven by a male that matched a description provided by the 80-year-old victim. Police ran the license plate and learned the vehicle was reported stolen out of Chicago, a release from Evanston police said. Officers then took the driver, Nelson Thomas, into custody after he, along with two other occupants of the vehicle, tried to run from police in the 2000 block of West Fargo Avenue, on the Far North Side of Chicago.

Thomas was identified by the victim in a lineup at the Evanston Police Department on Friday, the release said. Police also recovered a bank card belonging to the victim at the time of Thomas's arrest.

Police were able to identify the other two people in the vehicle, who are also believed to be present at the time of the robbery. No charges have been filed against the two as of Saturday afternoon.

Thomas, of the 5400 block of South Aberdeen Avenue, was charged on Friday night with robbery (a Class 1 felony), possession of a stolen motor vehicle (a Class 2 felony), aggravated fleeing and eluding police (a Class 4 felony), and driving on a suspended license (a Class A misdemeanor).

He is scheduled to appear for a hearing at the Cook County Courthouse in Skokie at 9 a.m. on Jan. 30.