Hanover Park Man Tries To Rob Uber Driver, Striking Him In Head With Gun: Police

ROSELLE, IL – A man tried to rob an Uber driver in Roselle, striking him on the head with a gun and causing him to crash into another car earlier this week, authorities said.

Nicholas Phillips, 31, of Hanover Park, was ordered held in jail until his trial, police said.

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About 11 p.m. Sunday, Roselle police were called to a crash involving a 2023 Nissan and a 2023 Kia. Both cars were unoccupied.

When officers looked inside the Kia, they saw a bullet on the rear passenger floorboard and a phone on the front passenger seat, prosecutors said in a news release.

After an investigation, authorities allege the victim, an Uber driver, drove his Kia to Hanover Park to pick up Phillips. Phillips got into the rear passenger seat, later told the driver to turn back and, after the driver stopped on Lake Street to show the address, pulled out a gun and again told him to turn back, police said.

The driver was then ordered to hand over money and, when he said he did not have any, Phillips struck him in the head with the gun, according to the news release.

Prosecutors also alleged Phillips told the driver he was going to shoot him. During the struggle, the Kia crashed into the Nissan at a gas station, and after the crash, the driver got out while Phillips chased him around the car before the driver fled, police said.

Authorities said Phillips then approached the Nissan driver, reached for his waistband and said, "I got a gun." The Nissan driver and Phillips then got into a brief fight, and the driver disarmed Phillips and tossed the gun, prosecutors said.

Hanover Park officers arrested Phillips at his home shortly after and recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm firearm near the gas station, police said.

"It is alleged that Mr. Phillips attempted to rob an innocent man at gunpoint who was just trying to earn an honest living," Berlin said. "Ride-share drivers provide an invaluable service to thousands of people every day, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they can safely do their job without worrying about their personal safety."

Phillips was charged with attempted armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated unlawful weapon possession, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated battery in a public place.