Old Codger Holds Up Gas Station, Leads Cops in Car Chase: Prosecutor

Roy Bridges | Cook County Sheriff

A 67-year-old man led police on a car chase through Stickney after he held up a Shell station with a stun gun, prosecutors said.

According to the charges, Roy Bridges entered a Shell gas station at 39th Street and Harlem Avenue in Stickney early Tuesday around 12:31 a.m.

Police said Bridges displayed a stun gun inside the Shell station. After the sales clerk handed over $129 from the cash register, Bridges made the clerk lie down on the floor.

Police were immediately on the scene after the clerk called 911, who was able to point out Bridges’ car as it fled the parking lot, the prosecutor said.

Bridges led Stickney police on a car chase, blowing two red lights and reaching speeds of 72 mph in a 20-mph zone police said. The chase finally ended when Bridges crashed into a parked car near 42nd Street and Ridgeland Avenue.

After Bridges crashed, police said Bridges got out of the car and tried to run away. He was caught after a brief foot chase.

Bridges is charged with armed robbery and aggravated fleeing and eluding, both felonies.

The prosecutor said court records showed Bridges to be on federal probation through 2046.

The public defender told the judge that Bridges suffers from cirrhosis of the liver. Before the alleged robbery, Bridges was in a hospital in the ICU. He was on medication at the time of robbery of the didn’t know what he was doing.

Bridges purchased the stun gun in Indiana, which does not have any laws prohibiting stun gun sales, the public defender added.

Judge Felice set Bridges’ bail at $500,000. Bridges’ next courting is in Bridgeview on Dec. 16.