ILLINOIS -- Police charged a 16-year-old West Side youth with armed robbery Wednesday for using two pit bull terriers as weapons to rob another teenager.
The pit bulls were "just as good as a gun," said police Sgt. Randy Barton.
Barton said the youth, whose name was withheld because of his age, confronted Corzell Thomason, 17, Wednesday in the 1400 block of South Ashland Avenue and demanded $10.
When Thomason refused, the robber sicced one of his dogs on Thomason. The dog bit Thomason's right leg. The robber also struck Thomason with a dog leash, said the sergeant, and took Thomason's jacket and sunglasses.
Thomason was treated at Cook County Hospital and released.
By questioning residents of the area, police tracked down and arrested the suspect, said Sgt. Barton.
Employees of the city`s Animal Control Department confiscated the suspect's two dogs, named Commanche and Spot, from his home.
The dogs were taken to the department`s pound.
Police were attempting to determine if the 16-year-old, who is in police custody, is the same person who held up a man and took a portable radio on Tuesday in the 2200 block of West Roosevelt Road by threatening the man with one pit bull.
That robber was accompanied by several accomplices.
(Chicago Tribune - July 16, 1987)
