Crime & Safety

Chicago Man Charged With Felony for Making False Robbery Claim, Cops Say

Chicago man's story of being robbed of phone at gunpoint falls apart after he calls to file a complaint about police from allegedly stolen phone, reports say.

A Chicago man was charged with a felony after he filed a false police report claiming that he was a victim of an armed robbery, reports said.

Earl D. Chapman, Jr., 24, was charged with disorderly conduct after stating that he had been robbed at gunpoint near 95th Street and Kostner Avenue, police said.

Oak Lawn Police responded to the area of 95th Street and Pulaski around 12:25 a.m. Oct. 4, to assist Evergreen Park Police with a “citizen complaint” that originated in Oak Lawn.

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According to the report, Chapman told the Evergreen Park cops that an armed robber took his iPhone 4S and $75 cash, but didn’t think that the Oak Lawn cops took him seriously.

Earlier in the evening, Chapman told Oak Lawn police that he was dropped off near 95th Street and Kostner Avenue by a co-worker after working the late shift at an unknown meat packing plant near Pulaski and 122nd Street.

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While trying to figure out his way home, Chapman told police that he bought a loose cigarette from a woman as he continued walking eastbound down 95th Street, police said.

As he was walking toward Evergreen Park, a black, 4-door Honda driven by a female with two male passengers inside drove past him on Kostner.

Less than minute later, he heard a male voice behind him ask for the time, reports said. Chapman then alleged that he felt someone tugging on his jacket from behind.

Police said Chapman claimed that he turned around to face a male black holding a small, black, semi-automatic handgun that Chapman referred to as a “.25” because of its size.

According to Chapman, the robber rummaged through Chapman’s pockets, taking his iPhone 4S and $75 cash, police said.

Officers said that Chapman did not appear upset for someone who was just been held up at gunpoint.

Chapman allegedly expressed concern about walking through a neighborhood where he was “just held up.” Police said he asked if they could give him a ride home.

The officers said they could give him a ride to the police station instead, where he could use their phones to arrange a ride home.

Police said they provided Chapman with the report number and names of officers involved, after he declined their offer for a ride back to the station.

When the police left, Chapman allegedly made two 911 calls using the number of the iPhone that was taken in the holdup, reports said.

Chapman apparently requested information for filing a citizen complaint because he felt that he was “wronged.”

It was after the third call when emergency communications related that the 911 calls were being placed from the allegedly stolen iPhone.

When police arrived at 95th Street and Pulaski, Chapman gave officers his verbal permission to search him, reports said.

During their search, police said they found two other cell phones in Chapman’s possession, including a Cricket ZTE phone. The officer had emergency communications call the Cricket number, which rang, according to the report.

Chapman was taken into custody and brought to the Oak Lawn police station, where police said he still insisted that he had been the victim of an armed robbery.

Police said that Chapman explained he was “tripping” when he gave cops the Cricket phone’s number. He allegedly told police that he knew they needed the phone number so they could try to locate the allegedly stolen iPhone.

Chapman said he gave police the Cricket phone’s number because he couldn’t remember the other one. Police gave the Cricket phone back after he claimed he had called it using the iPhone so he would have the number.

He couldn’t explain to police why the number wasn’t in his phone, and started to recant his story about the iPhone ever existing, reports said.

Police said that Chapman then agreed to give a written statement:

After he had purchased a loose cigarette from the woman, he continued walking eastbound when he observed a male black smoking weed, Chapman allegedly told police.

Chapman claimed that he gave the man some money to sell him some weed. The man jumped into the Honda driven by a woman. Both drove off with his money and did not return, reports said.

Police said Chapman was unable to provide a location or any further description of the alleged offender or car.

He refused to explain why he would flag down a police officer to report an armed robbery with a gun when he know the offense never actually occurred, police said.

A felony charge was approved for disorderly conduct. Chapman is currently being held on $50,000 bail at Cook County Jail.

Chapman is due back in court on Oct. 24.



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