Stolen U-Haul With Stolen Appliances Found, 4 Arrested

LINCOLNWOOD, IL — Four men face felony charges in connection with several stolen appliances found Sunday inside a stolen U-Haul outside a Lincolnwood retirement community, prosecutors said. Around 7 p.m., a security guard in the 3500 block of Northeast Parkway noticed an open garage door and two men, later identified as Charles Hood and Jerry Hunter, and called police, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Lindsay Hicks said at a bond hearing Tuesday.

Arriving officers found a third man, Derrick Dennis, inside a nearby U-Haul that Hunter had allegedly rented and never returned with two refrigerators and a stove inside. The fourth man charged in the incident, Clarence Wilson, was found sleeping in the back after police towed the truck to the station. The U-Haul had been reported stolen to Evanston police on Friday, according to Hicks, and was towed to the Lincolnwood Police Department without police noticing Wilson in the back. The combined value of the stolen appliances was about $4,700, according to the prosecution.

Hunter, 47, of the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago, does maintenance work on his building, according to Assistant Public Defender Debra Zisook, who represented all four men at their bond hearing Tuesday. Hunter was on parole at the time of his arrest due to 2014 convictions for aggravated battery to a police officer and theft, according to Hicks. He has five previous felony convictions.

Dennis, 50, of the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, lives and takes care of his mother. He works for a temporary employment service and has three grown children, Zisook told the judge. Prosecutors pointed out he has seven felony convictions, mostly on charges related to drugs and burglary, and twice forfeited bond.

Hood, 56, of the 2300 block of Foster Street in Evanston, attended Evanston Township High School, got a GED and currently works odd jobs, according to the public defender. He is a 47-year Evanston resident. He has two felony convictions and has forfeited bond eight times, according to Hicks.

Wilson, 64, of the 1300 block of Hartrey Avenue in Evanston, was described as self-employed. The state noted he has eight felony convictions, three misdemeanors, forfeited bond seven times and is a registered sex offender due to a 2004 conviction for attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault.

Zisook asked the Circuit Judge Anjana Hansen not to set cash bonds for the men.

"None of the defendants have any money," she told the judge.

Hansen rejected the request, ordering all four men jailed in lieu of $4,000 each as the cash portion .

"They pose a real and present threat to persons or persons, as defined by the statute," Hansen said.

"That's crazy," protested one of the defendants as they were led out of the courtroom by more than a half-dozen sheriff's deputies. "That's four stacks!"

The men are due back in court for a preliminary hearing on the case on June 26.

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