By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — Charges have been sorted out in multiple armed robberies at a fast-food restaurant, but a 25-year-old man will have to wait for his next day in court.
At the request of defense counsel for Thomas Maurice Davis, 25th District Court Judge Michael Ciungan on Tuesday adjourned a preliminary exam until May 7.
Davis is suspected of robbing Taco Bell, 2306 Dix-Toledo, on three separate occasions in November and December. Davis was originally charged with armed robbery and weapons possession.
Prosecutors said that on Nov. 4 Davis entered the restaurant about 7 p.m., pointed a shotgun at several employees and demanded cash. He allegedly fired a round into the ceiling before taking off with an undisclosed amount of cash. It was believed Davis stashed a bicycle near the restaurant, on which he made his getaway.
Subsequent charges followed as investigators said Davis again robbed Taco Bell on Nov. 28 and Dec. 10. A weapon was implied during those robberies, and police said that the description given by store employees and customers were of a similarly-built man wearing a face mask and knit cap. Davis lived less than a mile away, and police obtained search warrants for the residence where they discovered a shell casing and a black sweatshirt said to have been worn by Davis during the robberies.
Davis also was charged as a habitual offender. Court records indicate that Davis had absconded from parole after serving time for a previous conviction. He remains in custody without bond.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])