Two Chicago men are staying behind bars after a DuPage County judge rejected pretrial release in a late‑night Bensenville gas station robbery that spiraled into a 105‑mph chase on Interstate 290, according to prosecutors. A Villa Park officer was treated at a hospital and later released, and both suspects were arrested after their car crashed. The state's request to keep them detained was granted in court this week.
In a post from the DuPage County State’s Attorney's Office, prosecutors say the holdup went down around 2:21 a.m. Monday at Casey’s on Devon Avenue in Bensenville. The suspects were identified as Tavon Williams (born May 11, 1997) and Robert Hoes (born June 17, 1999). Williams allegedly vaulted the counter with a black handgun while Hoes loaded two cash registers into a Honda Civic before they took off. The Civic had been reported stolen out of Chicago, and witnesses told authorities the men repeatedly shouted, “Give me the money.”
Both men face multiple felony counts, including armed robbery with a firearm, and prosecutors say they are staring at a minimum sentence of 21 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if convicted. Their next court date is April 6 in front of Judge Mia McPherson.
Arguing that the defendants pose a danger to the community, prosecutors asked Judge Joshua Dieden to deny bond, a request he granted. State’s Attorney Robert Berlin has frequently pushed for detention in violent cases as a way to protect residents and preserve evidence, a pattern reflected in prior press releases from Bob Berlin.
High-speed chase ends on I-290 crash
According to prosecutors, Villa Park officers spotted the Honda Civic barreling along St. Charles Road near North Avenue at roughly 105 mph. The pursuit shifted onto I‑290, where officers rolled out a spike strip as the car headed into the eastbound lanes. The Civic shed some tires and eventually slammed into a median at I‑290 and Mannheim Road. Both men allegedly tried to make a run for it on foot but were caught nearby.
Investigators say they recovered a loaded Glock 23 .40‑caliber semi‑automatic pistol with an extended magazine and an alleged switch to convert it to fully automatic fire. Prosecutors allege Williams tossed the gun under the vehicle at I‑290 and Butterfield Road. Officers also reported finding reprogrammable key fobs on both men. “DuPage County will not allow violent crimes to terrorize communities,” the state’s attorney's office said in its release, which included photos and a summary of the case on the DuPage County State’s Attorney's Office page.
Both men remain presumed innocent as the investigation continues. Bensenville police publicly thanked neighboring departments for their help with the multi‑jurisdiction response, and prosecutors say the case is scheduled to return to court on April 6.
