Violent Sex Offender Charged In Wicker Park Robbery
Updated 02/22/12 - 2:54 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A violent sex offender now stands charged in connection with a stabbing during a robbery at a Wicker Park neighborhood flower shop.
Prosecutors say it was Alexander Hampton, 24, who robbed the Asrai Garden Flower Shop, 1935 W. North Ave., on Thursday of last week. A female employee was stabbed several times during the robbery, and was taken to the Stroger Hospital of Cook County in serious condition.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports
Podcast
Hampton, of the 3300 block of West Douglas Boulevard, was arrested Monday, and was picked out in a lineup, police said. He stands charged with armed robbery with a dangerous weapon.
He is also charged with failing to register as a violent sex offender, police said. His bond was set at $500,000 at a hearing Wednesday afternoon.
Around 11:20 a.m. Thursday, a fight broke out in the flower shop when the robber handed the woman a note demanding money and her iPod. During the struggle, police say the man picked up a floral cutting knife and stabbed the woman several times.
The robber took off with an iPod and money from the register.
The Asrai Garden Flower Shop is located in a storefront on the ground floor of the Flat Iron Arts Building, one of the most famous venues in the neighborhood. The building is located right at the junction of Milwaukee, Damen and North avenues, one of the hottest spots in the city.
