Charges Announced for Cook County Jail Detainees Accused in Jail Takeover

CHICAGO, IL -- More charges have been filed against a pair of maximum security Cook County Jail detainees who orchestrated a housing tier takeover and injured another detainee in last month’s hostage-barricade incident, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s office announced.

Cordarryl Stevenson, 27, is facing felony charges of possession of contraband in a penal institute, forcible detention, aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated battery, criminal damage to county property and mob action.

Martin Alvarado, 24, has been charged with aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated battery, forcible detention, mob action and possession of contraband in a penal institution.

Martin Alvadrado, 24 (left) and Cordarryl Stevenson, 27. | Cook County Sheriff

During the late afternoon of July 28, Alvarado and Stevenson took control of their Division 10 housing unit where the county’s maximum security detainees are housed. After covering the floor with soapy water, the two obscured the security cameras in the unit before tearing them down, according to sheriff’s office investigators.

• READ: ‘He’s Stabbing Him:’ Video Shows Inmate Takeover of Cook County Jail

The jail’s emergency response team was able to regain control of the housing unit by firing a flash-type of explosion and taking custody of Alvarado and Stevenson, as other detainees dove for cover. During the standoff a detainee was stabbed and taken to Stroger Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries, a sheriff’s news release said.

Investigators said that a weapon was recovered. There were no injuries to staff or to the other 15 detainees housed there. The sheriff’s office released additional video showing what appears to be Stevenson and Alvarado obscuring the fixed cameras with their hands and clothing.

Alvarado has been held at the Cook County Jail since April 2015 on a murder charge stemming from a Cicero Police Department arrest.

Stevenson has been in custody since September 2014 on charges of armed robbery and aggravated vehicular hijacking in Skokie. Stevenson’s previous felony convictions in Cook Count include residential burglary and robbery.

Both are scheduled to appear Monday for a bond hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.