Left to right: Curtis Benson, Glen Ruiz, and Kavon Waddell (Chicago Police Department)


CHICAGO — Three men have been detained as public safety risks after prosecutors accused them of robbing four victims at gunpoint and beating one victim with a handgun.

The robberies occurred between 2:30 p.m. and 4:48 p.m. on November 22, according to Chicago police records. In each incident, prosecutors alleged in court filings, Kavon Waddell, 21, and Glen Ruiz, 24, jumped out of a stolen Infiniti SUV to rob men on the street. Curtis Benson, 19, allegedly drove the vehicle.

Officials said the first victim, a 48-year-old man, was robbed at gunpoint of his wallet in the 3100 block of West 46th Street. At 4:20 p.m., a 46-year-old man was robbed in the 4400 block of South Sacramento.

But the third robbery turned especially violent, according to prosecutors.

Wadell and Ruiz allegedly confronted two men in the 4600 block of South Kilpatrick with firearms. During the holdup, Waddell beat a 46-year-old victim in the head, face, and body with a handgun, according to a criminal complaint.

A CPD helicopter located the Infiniti and directed ground units to its location. Cops closed in when the men bailed out of the car in the 3500 block of West Thomas, officials said.

According to their arrest reports, authorities found Waddell hiding inside a garbage can, located Ruiz under a home’s front stairs, and took Benson into custody after a foot chase.

Each of them faces charges of four counts of armed robbery, aggravated battery in a public place, and misdemeanor criminal trespass to a vehicle. Prosecutors reported that the police discovered a firearm on one of the men’s escape routes, but they have not charged any of the men with weapon possession.

Judge William Fahy handled the men’s detention hearing and ordered them jailed. He noted that Ruiz was adjudicated delinquent for attempted murder as a juvenile. His detention order for Benson said Benson has a “recent” armed robbery conviction.

CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com