Two Charged With Robbing Loyola Campus Cafeteria

CHICAGO (STMW) -- Bail was set at $325,000 Sunday for one of two men charged with robbing a Loyola University Chicago dining hall this past week and later trying to escape police.

Martell Howze, 25, an employee at the dining hall, made his first appearance in Cook County criminal court on charges tied to what authorities say was a long-planned heist.

Assistant State's Attorney Elizabeth Dibler also said Howze tried to flee the 20th District police lock-up after his arrest. He is now charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery and attempted escape.

Dibler said Howze hit a Chicago police detention aide in the back of the head while in the lock-up after the aide tried to remove a drawstring from Howze's hoodie.

Howze ran out of his cell, Dibler said, only to encounter a second CPD detention aide. Dibler said Howze punched and kicked both aides and bit one but eventually fell to the ground giving the aides a chance to take him back into custody.

Authorities say Howze earlier showed his co-defendant, Rodrick Moore, how to get through Loyola University security and where to find a safe at the school's dining hall.

According to prosecutors, Moore, 31, approached an employee about 2:30 a.m. Friday as the worker was leaving the cafeteria in the 6500 block of North Sheridan Road — part of Loyola's Rogers Park campus — after closing up. Moore allegedly hit the woman in the head with a BB gun, then forced her back inside, threatening to shoot her if she didn't open the safe.

Moore and Howze got away with $2,811, prosecutors said.

CTA and Loyola surveillance video helped catch them.

Moore, of the 6200 block of South Michigan, was found nearby on the CTA Red Line. He appeared in bond court Saturday and was ordered held on $150,000 bail, charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping and concealing his identity.

After arresting Moore, the police identified Howze, of the 200 block of East 89th Place, as having been involved. Authorities recovered the stolen cash and the handgun, which they said was a replica.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)