Bond denied for man charged in Addison carjacking, armed robbery

Bond was denied Wednesday for one of two men accused of hijacking at gunpoint a Chevrolet Camaro from a man late Monday night and robbing an Addison gas station at gunpoint on March 29.

James T. Kimbrough, 22, of the 700 block of East 147th Street, Dolton, appeared in DuPage County Bond Court where Judge Jeffrey MacKay denied bond, according to a DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office news release.

The second defendant, Malik Pierre-Louis, 23, of the 900 block of East Lake Street, Addison, is scheduled to appear in bond court Thursday.

Both men have been charged with one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm and one count of armed robbery, the release stated.

On May 11, at about 11:50 p.m., Addison police responded to the 1200 block of Meyer Drive for an aggravated vehicular hijacking.

The victim allegedly was sitting in his car outside his residence talking on the phone when he observed a white sedan drive by. Moments later, a man, later identified as Kimbrough, allegedly approached the driver’s side window and asked if he could borrow the victim’s cell phone. The victim declined but ultimately changed his mind and told Kimbrough he could speak using the in-car Bluetooth system, the release stated.

After Kimbrough attempted to make three phone calls, he allegedly pointed a gun at the victim and ordered him out of the car. The victim complied at which time Kimbrough entered the car and drove off at a high rate of speed. The victim ran inside his residence and called police, according to the release.

An investigation led police to a gas station on Archer Avenue in Summit. As Darien and the Illinois State Police attempted a felony stop on the vehicle, the driver of the car, later identified as Pierre-Louis, allegedly attempted to flee the scene as Kimbrough was attempting to enter the car, the release stated.

The car was disabled using OnStar. Pierre-Louis exited the car and fled on foot while Kimbrough got into the driver’s seat of the car. He was taken into custody at this time. Officers recovered a firearm from the vehicle. Pierre-Louis was taken into custody the following day from a hotel in Addison, the release stated.

On March 29, at approximately 2:45 a.m., Addison police responded to a call regarding an armed robbery at a Marathon Gas Station. Through the course of their investigation, police learned that two masked men, later identified as Kimbrough and Pierre-Louis, allegedly attempted to force their way into the secured booth where the clerk was working, according to the release.

Pierre-Louis allegedly took out a black handgun and fired a round through the protective glass. Kimbrough and Pierre-Louis then allegedly kicked their way into the secured area where the clerk was and stole money and Swisher Sweet cigars. The two men then fled the scene.

“Mistakenly, Mr. Kimbrough and Mr. Pierre-Louis allegedly thought they could take advantage of the current health crisis to terrorize Addison,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. “They could not have been further from the truth. It is trying times such as these where law enforcement in DuPage County shines and shows what it truly means to serve and protect. The quick apprehension of these two defendants should make this crystal clear to anyone even thinking about committing a crime in DuPage County.”

“I am extremely proud of the dedication and professionalism exhibited by our officers who worked this case,” Addison Director of Police Bill Hayden said in the release. “The quick identification and apprehension of the two suspects is a testament to our ongoing commitment to the safety and security of Addison residents. I thank the Darien Police Department and the Illinois State Police for their assistance as well as the State’s Attorney’s Office for their legal guidance.”

Kimbrough’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 11 for arraignment in front of Judge George Bakalis.