Crime & Safety
Alleged BB Gun Carjacker Pleads Not Guilty
Jonathan Sarolas, 23, will be back in court on Aug. 15 on an aggravated vehicular hijacking charge after he was accused of carjacking an Orland Park restaurant employee with a BB gun.
Jonathan Sarolas, the 23-year-old man , pleaded not guilty to charges against him, officials confirmed this week.
Cook County State's Attorney's Office spokesman Andy Conklin told Patch Monday that Sarolas pleaded not guilty on Aug. 2. He is facing an aggravated vehicular hijacking, a Class X felony, with Judge Colleen Hyland presiding.
in the case by Judge Peter Felice for Sarolas, who had been released from state prison 11 days before the alleged incident on June 25.
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April Schmidt, 23, of Woodriver, who police say was Sarolas' accomplice, . Schmidt also pleaded not guilty on Aug. 2 in front of Judge Hyland.
According to reports, the pair fled the parking lot of Red Lobster in Orland Park, driving an employee's car, after Sarolas held up the employee with a BB pistol and stole her car keys and purse.
Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Sarolas and Schmidt drove south in the stolen car on LaGrange, when police started chasing them. They turned west on 167th Street, and turned again onto Liberty Circle where they hit a dead end, as officers followed. Schmidt was picked up near the car and Sarolas ran from police.
Sarolas at a Midlothian Metra station, after .
He is scheduled to be back in court on Aug. 15. Schmidt is scheduled for a court date on Sept. 17.
