Charge Made in Robbery of Poll Worker on Election Day in Evanston

EVANSTON, IL - A 19-year-old Chicago man was charged in connection with the Election Day robbery of a poll place volunteer in Evanston. Police in Evanston charged Lamar D. Berger with robbery and unlawful restraint this week, according to a news release from the Evanston Police Department.

An initial report indicates the victim - a 17-year-old from Chicago - was walking from the Howard Street CTA station to the city's Levy Center in the 300 block of Dodge Avenue at 5:26 a.m. when he was approached by a man who announced a robbery while riding a Divvy bicycle near Oakton Street and Darrow Avenue.

The man on the bike forced the victim into an alley where, according to police, he "took the victims laptop, cellular phone and bank cards."

"While in the alley the offender also made the victim change the passwords on his electronic devices," according to the report.

The victim called police at the Levy Center. Detectives in the area believe they found the offender in the 300 block of Asbury Avenue, but he jumped on the Divvy bicycle and "fled on foot without being located."

Divvy officials helped police identify Berger as the suspect. Berger was charged for an unrelated offense in Chicago on Dec. 22 and then connected to the incident in Evanston.