Crime & Safety
2 Arrested for Kidnapping of Rideshare Driver in Glen Ellyn
The 19-year-old Glen Ellyn man and 20-year-old Wheaton man remain in custody.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a 36-year-old rideshare driver, which occurred outside an apartment complex in Glen Ellyn last weekend, authorities said.
Joshua Phillips, 19, of Glen Ellyn, and Alonzo Alexander, 20, of 1699 Briarcliff in Wheaton, have both been charged with aggravated unlawful restraint and armed robbery in connection with the Nov. 26 kidnapping, according to a news release from the Glen Ellyn Police Department.
The suspects are accused of approaching the 36-year-old man while he was standing outside his car at the apartments at 325 Ramblewood Drive in Glen Ellyn, according to authorities. They then forced the man at gunpoint to drive them around to ATM machines where they attempted to use his debit card to withdraw funds.
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The men then directed the victim to drive to Walmart at 3S100 Route 53 in Glen Ellyn. When they got to the parking lot, the victim was able to escape and run from the car and report the kidnapping to police, according to the news release.
The men fled taking the victim’s phone and car. They allegedly sold the victim’s phone and the car was later located near the location where the man was first kidnapped, police said.
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Phillips was arrested at his apartment and Alexander was arrested in Chicago. Bond has been set at $1 million for Phillips and at $500,000 for Alexander. Both remain in custody as of Friday morning at the DuPage County Jail, according to online jail records.
“The type of brazen attack and abduction alleged in this case will not be tolerated in DuPage County,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. “I would like to thank the Glen Ellyn Police Department for their hard work and determination on this matter. It is because of their efforts we are able to build a strong case against the two men suspected of this outrageous criminal conduct."
Both men are next scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 7.
Photo caption: From left to right: Alonzo Alexander and Joshua Phillips
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