2 Charged In Deadly Frankfort Armed Robbery: Sheriff

FRANKFORT, IL — Two men have been charged in connection with an armed robbery that turned deadly earlier this year at Ryan's Pub in unincorporated Frankfort, the Will County Sheriff's Office said. During the April 30 robbery, police said one of the robbers, identified as 20-year-old Triston Morrison of Calumet City, was shot and killed by one of the patrons at the bar.

Now, nearly seven months later, the sheriff's office has arrested Alvin Hodge, 23, of Chicago, and Rashe Caldwell, 25, of Riverdale, on charges of aggravated armed robbery.

The sheriff's office said they were called to Ryan's Pub, 7928 W. Lincoln Highway, at 3:15 a.m. on April 30 for a report of an armed robbery in progress. Police were told that two men had entered the business armed with handguns, demanding money from patrons and employees. Later, it was determined that the guns were actually replicas, similar to Airsoft guns.

The two men were dressed in dark clothing and wearing latex gloves, masks and hoods. According to the sheriff's office, the men threatened to shoot all the patrons and employees if they did not comply with their demands. The victims pleaded for their lives as the suspects brandished firearms, threatening to kill them, police said.

One of the patrons had access to a gun, and feared they were about to be shot, according to the sheriff's office. The armed patron shot at the two men as they began to walk toward the entrance of the business, police said.

Gunfire struck one of the suspects, identified as Morrison, several times. The second man, now identified as Hodge, fled the bar and got into a nearby vehicle, the sheriff's office said.

Police later learned that Hodge had suffered a gunshot wound in the shooting as well.

The sheriff's office said a third suspect, now identified as Caldwell, was inside a getaway vehicle and sped away from the bar after the shooting.

Morrison was pronounced dead by responding members of the Frankfort Fire Protection District, according to the sheriff's office. The suspects were able to successfully complete the armed robbery, but most of the robbery proceeds had been stuffed inside Morrison's pants, police said.

The two replica guns the suspects had in their possession were recovered at the scene; one was found close to Morrison and the other was found in a parking lot outside the bar, police said.

On Nov. 13, Caldwell was arrested on an aggravated armed robbery warrant by the Calumet City Police Department. While being taken into custody, Caldwell was charged with additional crimes in Cook County and is in custody at the Cook County Jail, police said. Bond was set at $500,000 for the Will County charges.

On Nov. 16, members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Unit, who are also members of the United States Marshall Service Great Lakes Regional Task Force, apprehended Hodge. Hodge was found at a home in Chicago, police said.

Members of the sheriff's office set up surveillance on the home and saw Hodge exit the home and approach a parked vehicle, the sheriff's office said. Before he was able to leave in the car, police approached and apprehended him without incident.

Hodge was taken into custody on an arrest warrant for two counts of aggravated robbery. Bond was set at $1 million.

According to the sheriff's office, Hodge had been treated and later released from a Cook County hospital shortly after the armed robbery. Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office were able to track down the offenders through various interviews and electronic evidence, the sheriff's office said.

Hodge is at the Will County Adult Detention Facility, awaiting his initial court appearance, police said. Once all Cook County charges for Caldwell are satisfied, he will be transferred into the custody of the Will County Sheriff’s Office and be housed at the Will County Adult Detention Facility as well, the sheriff's office said.