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Theft suspect makes break for it, caught quickly in Oak Park
Updated: April 15, 2013 6:43AM
OAK PARK — Retail theft suspect Leroy Burton Jr. apparently thought a trip to the hospital would give him a chance to make a run for it.
Burton, 45, of the 1800 block of South 9th Avenue, Maywood, was being held for a bond hearing after being arrested at 4:23 p.m. March 6, and charged with felony retail theft.
Police say Burton, who was paroled last April from his most recent retail theft conviction, stole four bottles of vodka valued at $115.96 from the Dominick’s store at 259 Lake St. in Oak Park.
“He was going to a bond hearing, and as sometimes happens with prisoners, he complained of not feeling good,” said Detective Sgt. Mike Lepczynski.
Instead of being transported by Cook County Sheriff personnel, Burton was transported to Rush Oak Park Hospital.
Lepczynski could not offer details of the escape incident except to say Burton bolted out of the medical facility. Police flooded the area and Burton was quickly apprehended about a block away.
“He just took off,” said Lepczynski. “(But) we had a lot of people in the area very quickly.”
Witnesses say a man was caught and arrested by police on the 600 block of South Home Avenue Thursday morning.
Lepczynski said the felony retail theft and the escape charges would be treated as separate issues in court. Burton was scheduled to be at a bond hearing Saturday morning in the Maybrook Courthouse.
