Man Charged In String Of West Side Robberies, Rapes
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A homeless man was ordered held without bond Thursday, charged in a series of armed robberies and two sexual assaults last year in the East Garfield Park neighborhood.
As WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports, authorities said Darrion Grossley, 22, was a one-man crime spree, terrorizing the area of Madison Street and Pulaski Road.
During a bond hearing Thursday afternoon, prosecutors said Grossley entered three businesses on three separate dates holding a black semiautomatic handgun and wearing a black mask in the 4000 block of West Madison Street.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports
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When he went into a nail salon two days after Christmas, Grossley allegedly forced a male and two female employees to the back of the room. He told the man to ask the women in Vietnamese to take off their clothes, prosecutors said.
He then forced the women to perform oral sex on him as he held a gun to them, according to prosecutors. Grossley then took $2,700 from the cash register and fled.
On Christmas Eve, Grossley went into K-B World and took $200 from the cash register as well as $25 from the store's security officer, prosecutors said. Earlier this month, on Jan. 5, he went to a shoe store where he swiped two employees' cell phones and took $10 from one.
Grossley also took $200 from the cash register and when he saw another employee walking into the store, he hit that person with his weapon and took $100 from them, prosecutors said.
He was arrested on Jan. 17 about 1:30 p.m. when Harrison Area detectives assigned to the crimes were in the 4000 block of West Madison Street and spotted Grossley, who matched the description of the offender. As the detectives attempted to stop Grossley, he immediately ran, according to police.
A short foot pursuit ensued and with the assistance of Harrison District officers, Grossley was taken into custody, police said. He had a black ski mask on him when he was caught, police said.
Surveillance cameras had captured Grossley in the act in the two most recent cases and witnesses from each of the incidents have identified him, prosecutors said.
Grossley has been charged with eight counts of armed robbery with a firearm, two counts of criminal sexual assault with a firearm, and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm.
He put his hand to his face and cried when Judge Jackie Portman ordered him held without bond.
Grossley has a record of several minor arrests and one misdemeanor conviction dating back six years, but he has never been convicted of a felony, the Chicago Tribune reported.
A police source tells WBBM Newsradio that investigators are now looking into whether Grossley, of the 4000 block of West Maypole Avenue, was responsible for any other crimes.
(The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.)
