2 Chicago men charged in assault and robbery of Oak Lawn senior

From staff reports

Two Chicago men were charged Monday for battering an elderly man on June 16 and stealing his money and cell phone.

Ivan Garduno, 29, and Heberto Flores, 31, both of Chicago, were charged with a variety of offenses including Aggravated Battery, Robbery, Reckless Driving, Driving Under the Influence, Driving While License Suspended, Possession of Controlled Substance (cocaine), and 16 traffic violations including “Scott’s Law” named in memory of Lt. Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department who was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver while assisting at a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

On June 16, about 8 p.m., the Oak Lawn Police Department responded to the Citgo gas station at 6801 W. 87^th Street for the report of two men battering an elderly man.

A police sergeant who responded to the scene observed the men enter a black Nissan Versa and flee westbound on 87^th Street.  The sergeant attempted to stop the vehicle in the shopping mall at 87^th and Harlem, but the offenders continued to flee and drove through an active crash investigation at 84^th and Harlem that was being conducted by the Bridgeview Police Department. The vehicle proceeded into Burbank where it eventually crashed into another vehicle in the intersection of 83^rd Street and Nottingham.

The 74-year-old victim was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and treated for broken ribs and facial contusions. The two suspects and occupants of the vehicle they struck were also transported to Advocate Christ and treated for minor injuries.

During the investigation, detectives learned that the two suspects battered the victim and took his cell phone and his money.  A search of their vehicle yielded the victim’s cell phone, currency, open liquor, and a substance that later tested positive as cocaine.

Both men were transported to the Leighton Criminal Courthouse Monday morning for a bond hearing.

Garduno was ordered held without bond. His next court date is set for June 22 at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

Bond for Heberto was set at $15,000 and he remains in custody at Cook County Jail. His next court date is also set for June 22 at the Bridgeview Courthouse.