Bail Set at $250K for Accused Purse Snatcher Chased Down by Bystanders

Caption: Jaleel Johnson, 19, of the 6900 block of South Artesian, was charged with one count of felony robbery.

Update: A Cook County judge set bail at $250,000 for a South Side man accused of knocking down a 21-year-old woman in Lake View and stealing her purse.

Jaleel Johnson, 19, appeared in central bond court on Tuesday afternoon, whose been charged with one felony count of robbery.

Three Peoples Gas workers were on the job in the 3100 block of North Southport on Monday evening. The crew saw Johnson allegedly grab the woman by the hair and throw her to ground. He ran away after reportedly grabbing her purse, the Chicago Tribune said.

Police said the three men chased Johnson through a gang way where they cornered him in the parking lot near Schuba’s Tavern.

At Johnson’s bond hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors reported that Johnson told authorities he heard voices in his head, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Original story - Three men chased down an alleged robber after they saw him pushing a woman into the vestibule of her building, Chicago police said in a news release.

Police responded to a “holding citizen” call in the 3100 block of North Southport around 10 p.m. Monday.

Witnesses told police they observed a man identified as Jaleel Johnson, 19, following a 21-year-old woman into the vestibule of her building, according to the charges.

As she entered the building, the 19-year-old man allegedly grabbed the woman and shoved her the ground, taking her purse and fleeing.

Three men who saw the incident chased Johnson down and caught him after a brief foot chase, police said. The men held Johnson until police arrived.

Police said the woman positively identify Johnson at the scene and he was charged with one felony count of robbery.

The woman’s purse was also said to be in Johnson’s possession.

Johnson, of the 6900 block of South Artesian, is due in Central Bond Court on Tuesday.