After BB Gun Stickup, Armed Robbers Crash into Snowbank: Police

Two men were taken into custody after allegedly robbing a truck stop clerk at gunpoint early Friday, police said.

Lt. Carter Larry said the two suspects entered the I-55 truck stop at 510 S. Bolingbrook Road at around 2:38 a.m. wearing masks and hoodies. One of the men reportedly displayed a pistol and ordered the clerk to place money in a bag, police said.

After the clerk put cash in excess of $150 in the bag, the offenders fled on foot, Larry said.

After the robbery, police spotted a suspicious vehicle entering I-55 southbound and performed a traffic stop, Larry said. Officers approached and were speaking with the driver and passenger, who fit the descriptions of the suspects, when the driver allegedly accelerated and took off, police said.

After a brief pursuit, the driver lost control of the silver Mercedes near Remington and 115th and crashed into a snow bank, police said.

The two suspects, 26-year-old Michael Bernacki of Summit and 22-year-old Jordan Mercado of Chicago, were taken into custody at the scene of the crash, police said. Neither of the men were injured, according to Larry.

The two men were arrested on charges of armed robbery and aggravated fleeing and eluding, according to police.

Cash was found on the suspects and inside the vehicle, and police recovered a black BB gun pistol under the front seat of the vehicle, Larry said.

The truck stop clerk was able to positively ID both of the suspects, according to police.

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