Ex-Con Roommates Accused In Evanston Robbery Spree

EVANSTON, IL — Police said two men who are believed to have committed at least three robberies and a kidnapping in Evanston this month have been caught, but a third alleged robber is still being sought. In the first incident, two men tried to enter a woman's car while it was parked in the 1600 block of Simpson Street, but she managed to escape. In the second incident, a pizza delivery man was robbed at gunpoint in the 2100 block of Foster Street.

Daniel L. Jones, 26, and Mario Rucker, 19, who share the same address of the 1800 block of Hovland Court, have been charged in connection with both incidents.

In the third incident, for which only Jones has so far been charged, another pizza delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint on Feb. 13 in the 1800 block of Darrow Avenue, police said.

The robbers reportedly brandished a handgun and briefly kidnapped the 69-year-old driver with the intention of taking him to an ATM to withdraw cash, according to Cmdr. Ryan Glew.

But with a few blocks, he said, the carjackers got the car stuck in the snow, jumped out and ran away before police arrived. The robbers made off with the contents of his wallet, including IDs and $20, as well as pizzas, according to police.

Rucker, who detectives had been investigating prior to the report of the armed hijacking and momentary kidnapping, was arrested the following day. He was charged with attempted robbery in connection with the first incident and aggravated robbery over the second.

Jones was arrested Saturday. In addition to charges of attempted robbery and armed robbery for the first two incidents, he was charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated battery and possession of a stolen motor vehicle in connection with the third robbery.

Investigators believe their accomplice may have left the state, Glew said.

The two men have previous felony convictions resulting from a 2015 arrest for allegedly robbing a juvenile in the small Iowa town of Manchester, according to police press releases and state prison records.

Both men were ordered held without bond. Jones is next due in court March 13. A court date for Rucker – who was wanted in Iowa for a parole violation at the time of his arrest – has not yet been set, Glew said.

» More: Police Warn Of Carjacking Attempts, Armed Robbery In Evanston