Parolees Nabbed By Burglary Task Force In Palos Hills: Cops

PALOS HILLS, IL — Two men under surveillance by a burglary task force were nabbed walking out with items they stole from a Palos Hills home, prosecutors said. Demetrius Henderson, 33, and Michael Stephens, 38, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on a felony charge of residential burglary. Both men are on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Officers from the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force burglary unit were investigating several residential burglaries in nearby communities north of Palos Hills. The task force was conducting surveillance on a suspicious vehicle in the 11100 block of East Cove Circle around 2 p.m. March 6. Henderson and Stephens were observed breaking into a house, the prosecutor said. The two emerged moments later allegedly carrying stolen loot. Both men were taken into custody and charged with residential burglary. Palos Hills police assisted in the arrests.

The prosecutor said Henderson, a Chicago resident, has a pending drug case with intent to deliver. Henderson is currently on parole from a six-year sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon. He has past convictions for forgery, aggravated battery of a person over 60, and two other residential burglaries, according to IDOC records.

Stephens, of Chicago Heights, is on parole for three concurrent sentences of burglary and attempted burglary, the prosecutor said.

The judge said he was going to consider bond until he heard their backgrounds.

“You guys have terrible rap sheets and probation is not an option,” Mahoney said. “You’ve got about the worst backgrounds I’ve seen in a long time.”

Henderson and Stephens are due back in court March 24 in Bridgeview.