Florida Man Charged with Felonies Following Sheriff’s Police Retail Theft Operation (Cook County, IL) – A 27-year-old man from Florida has been charged for a spree of retail thefts in Chicago following a Sheriff’s Police Organized Retail Crime Taskforce investigation, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
Last month, investigators received a tip that the offender identified as Brandon Kelly of
Jacksonville, Florida, was allegedly selling stolen merchandise in the 6300 block of South Ashland Avenue in Chicago’s West Englewood neighborhood.
On Thursday, Jan 9, investigators conducted a targeted retail theft surveillance operation that led to Kelly’s arrest after he took merchandise from various commercial stores throughout the day in the 4900 block of South Kedzie Avenue and then returned to the West Englewood area to re-sell the merchandise.
Further investigation revealed that Kelly allegedly produced a firearm from his waistband and threatened a store clerk. Investigators located and arrested Kelly in the 6200 block of South Ashland Avenue and found him in possession of a loaded handgun and recovered nearly $10,000 worth of stolen merchandise.
Investigators also learned that Kelly had an active Cook County arrest warrant for shoplifting and had numerus prior arrests in Illinois, Florida, and California for retail theft, burglary, domestic fviolence, and being in violation of an order of protection.
On Friday, Jan 10., Kelly was charged with multiple felonies including Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Retail Theft, and Aggravated Assault with a Firearm.
He appeared for his initial hearing today at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse where a judge ordered him detained at the Cook County Jail. His next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2025.
The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Florida Man Charged with Felonies Following Sheriff’s Police Retail Theft Operation
