Evanston robbery suspect tries to flee along CTA tracks

Updated: December 14, 2012 4:08PM

EVANSTON — A man was arrested after trying to get away from police by running along the CTA tracks after stealing cash and an iPhone from another man at an Evanston station Thursday, police said.

Police responded to a robbery at Evanston’s South Boulevard CTA station about 11 a.m. Thursday, Evanston police said. The victim, a 19-year-old Evanston man, told police someone tried to punch him, then robbed him and ran away.

The victim provided a description and officers saw a man who matched the description. They chased him on foot and the suspect tried to run along the CTA elevated tracks and Metra commuter tracks nearby. Richard D. Tharpe was later found hiding in a garage in the 600 block of Callan Avenue, according to police.

The victim positively identified Tharpe, according to police, who recovered the cell phone from the garage but were unable to locate the money.

Tharpe, of the 1500 block of Simpson Street in Evanston, was charged with one count of robbery and is scheduled for a hearing at the Skokie courthouse at 9 a.m. Jan. 10.

Show / Hide Comments