Getaway Car In Parking Lot Robbery Faces Forfeiture: Cops

Joliet IL

16 December, 2021

2:53 PM

Description

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet woman may have to part ways with her 2020 Hyundai Elantra because the Will County State's Attorney's Office contends that 22-year-old London Stamps used her car to commit an armed robbery in the parking lot of the Joliet McDonald's at 1515 W. Jefferson St. The crime happened Oct. 22, and Stamps was arrested by Joliet police several minutes later, following a high-speed chase. Two months later, Stamps remains in the Will County Jail facing a $500,000 bail. The woman who owns the car facing the civil forfeiture faces no criminal charges in connection with the armed robbery. According to Wednesday's civil forfeiture complaint, Joliet police learned of the McDonald's parking lot armed robbery around 1:35 p.m. Police dispatchers relayed that the victim of the stick up was following after the robber in his own car, and the suspect was driving along Larkin Avenue near Joliet West High School. A Joliet patrolman spotted the suspect's car, a 2020 Hyundai Elantra, as it turned into the 1500 block of Black Road. The driver hit the gas, topping speeds of 80 mph along an area of Joliet with a 35 mph speed limit, driving through the red traffic light at the intersection of Midland Avenue, court records show. Police learned the fleeing car belonged to a Joliet woman who lives in the 500 block of Walsh Avenue, the complaint stated. Officers spotted the car parked in front of her house and "Stamps ran from officers at which time he was ordered to the ground ... and placed into handcuffs," court records show. At the time of his arrest, Stamps had the $350 that was stolen from the McDonald's parking lot victim "and the victim identified Stamps as the person who robbed him," the complaint stated. Meanwhile, other officers discovered a backpack dropped by Stamps behind a house on Taylor Street, and the backpack contained clothes, two guns, prosecutors noted. One of the guns was loaded with several rounds of ammunition, authorities said. A homeowner provided police with two videos showing Stamps running past the front of her house and around the rear of her property while carrying a black backpack, the complaint noted. According to police, the robbery victim knew Stamps and "Stamps asked for a ride since his car needed repairs, and they agreed to meet at the McDonald's ... (the victim) had informed Stamps that he was coming from cashing his check." The forfeiture stated Stamps entered the front passenger seat of the victim's car and pulled out a black automatic handgun "and made a statement to the effect of, 'Give me your check.' The victim gave Stamps the $350 and "after taking the money, Stamps returned to his vehicle and attempted to leave,"prosecutors outlined. A Shorewood resident, Stamps lives in the 800 block of Wildflower Drive. The forfeiture complaint involving the Joliet woman's 2020 Hyundai Elantra is set for Jan. 12 at the Will County Courthouse.