A Cook County man, identified as Demitrious Green, has been ordered to remain in custody by Judge Joseph Bugos following an incident in April where he allegedly hijacked a vehicle from a Villa Park Taco Bell; the announcement was made by DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Todd Kubish, as reported by DuPage County’s official website. Green, 33, hailing from Oak Park, faced a judge for a first appearance and is being charged with a Class 1 felony.
According to accounts of the incident, the victim was waiting in her car while her companions were inside the Taco Bell at 125 W. Roosevelt Road when Green purportedly approached the car and demanded she exit, pretending to brandish a weapon under his coat; as her acquaintances emerged from the restaurant, Green reportedly warned them to keep their distance and he fled the scene in the commandeered vehicle, with police apprehending him months later on June 14. "Judge Bugos' decision to deny pre-trial release for Mr. Green sends a strong message that in DuPage County, we will not tolerate violent criminal activity, as alleged in this case," Berlin stated, according to the announcement, expressing relief that no one was physically harmed during the alleged crime.
In response to this incident, Villa Park Chief of Police Todd Kubish further emphasized the strict stance against threats to public safety and lauded the collaborative efforts of his department and the Chicago Police Department, "The residents of Villa Park and DuPage County anticipate that our law enforcement agency will adopt a resolute and aggressive approach to combating individuals who pose a threat to public safety," Kubish said, highlighting the successful apprehension and investigation that followed. The combined efforts of the Villa Park Police, the Chicago Police Department’s 15th District, and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office were key in detaining Green.
Green is scheduled to return to court on July 15, 2025, for his arraignment, where he will be formally charged and can enter a plea in front of Judge Bugos; until then, as with all defendants, Green is presumed innocent until proven guilty, requiring the government to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt during a fair trial, something that is a cornerstone of the United States judicial system and a right afforded to all citizens.
