LaGrange man charged in Summit phone store robbery

From staff reports

A LaGrange man has been charged with the robbery last week of the T-Mobile store at 5640 S. Harlem Ave. in Summit.

Michael Lang Anderson, 26, was arrested in LaGrange after he was found hiding under some stairs, police said.

Police said he robbed the store on January 10.

Community activist Raul Montes had called the Desplaines Valley News on Wednesday to let us know about the robbery as he was on the scene and observed the robber as he left the store.

“I pulled up and saw the person, and something told me not to get out of my car. After he took off, I went in the store and found out what happened, and alerted the police,” said Montes.

“I would like to see stores such as T-Mobile and the attached Fifth/Third Bank have armed security to keep employees and customers safe and possibly deter this from happening,” he said.

Montes said he was later called by the Summit police to come to the station to tell what he witnessed after Anderson was in custody.

Daniel, a store manager who declined to give his last name, said the robbery happened about 5:06 p.m. He said that a man, later identified as Anderson, walked into the store and told employees to get on the ground. Anderson then took off with 16 devices, Daniel said.

Summit police responded quickly and discovered the three employees were safe that the robber had fled the area.

Evidence led police investigators to LaGrange.

Summit police and LaGrange police were searching for the robber when a man matching his description was observed.

The suspect took off when he saw police and a short foot chase ensued.

Additional police responded to the area and a perimeter was set up. With the help of a Cook County Sheriff’s Police K9 unit, a yard was identified as a potential hiding place.

Officers then located Anderson hiding under some stairs. He was taken into custody without incident and transported back to the Summit Police Station. Proceeds from the robbery and other evidence were found on him, police said.

Anderson was charged with three counts of armed robbery and three counts of kidnapping.

Summit Police Chief Mel Ortiz said it was a team effort.

“We appreciate all of our sister agencies,” he said. “Without their assistance, we would have not been able to take the suspect into custody.”

Anderson was transported to the Bridgeview Courthouse and was ordered held without bond.

His next court case is scheduled for February 10.