Getaway Car Crashes, Three Suspects in Multiple 'Smash-and-grab' Burglaries Arrested

Three men Elmhurst police believe are responsible for a July 7 "smash-and-grab" burglary at Williams Liquors, 925 S. York, have been arrested after a the suspects' getaway car crashed in Elmhurst Wednesday, according to information provided by Elmhurst Police Chief Michael Ruth.

In the July 7 incident, police responded to Williams Liquors for a burglary in progress at 5:35 a.m. and discovered the front window smashed, according to a police report. The offenders loaded a large tub with liquor and cigarettes and dragged it to the door, but since the doors only open with a key, the offenders fled the scene without the tub, police said. 

At 2 a.m. Wednesday, after another smash-and-grab incident minutes earlier in Bellwood, Berkley police alerted Elmhurst police to a vehicle traveling westbound on St. Charles Road at a high rate of speed. The suspects' vehicle ran a red light and struck another vehicle at St. Charles and Route 83 in Elmhurst, Ruth said. Witnesses told officers that three men jumped out of the car and fled westbound toward the walking path on the east side of Route 83.

Police discovered the suspects' vehicle was stolen and that the men were fleeing from the Bellwood burglary. An ambulance responded for the victim of the crash, but the extend of injuries is not immediately known. 

Elmhurst officers set up a perimeter, and with assistance from police dogs and officers from other jurisdictions, all three offenders were captured. 

• Tanzel D. Morris (also known as Cheers and Wesley C. Jr.), 21, of 16236 S. Justine, Markham, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an injury accident. He was taken to DuPage County Jail.
• Roosevelt Brown (a.k.a. Jason Smith), 20, of 14417 Edbrook, Riverdale, was charged with burglary for the Williams Liquors case July 7, criminal trespass to a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an injury accident and obstructing identification. He was taken to DuPage County Jail.
• Byron F. Dennis, 19, 107 W. 158th, Harvey, was charged with criminal trespass to a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. He was released on bond.

All three subjects will face charges out of Bellwood for criminal trespass to a building and criminal damage to property after Wednesday's failed store burglary. They also are considered "persons of interest" for other smash-and-grab burglaries that have plagued the suburbs, Ruth said.

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