Chicago police on Friday charged a 32-year-old man in two violent spring robberies near Wrigley Field and in River North. Authorities say the suspect, identified as Dennis Laird, was picked up on the Far South Side and now faces multiple felony counts.
Robberies on Clark Street
Investigators allege Laird attacked and robbed a 20-year-old on April 22 in the 3500 block of North Clark Street, roughly a block from Wrigley Field. Less than a month later, police say he took part in restraining and robbing a 30-year-old in the 400 block of North Clark Street in River North.
Laird was arrested Thursday near 93rd Street and Stony Island Avenue in the Calumet Heights neighborhood, according to FOX 32 Chicago. He is charged with armed robbery with a dangerous weapon, robbery, aggravated unlawful restraint and aggravated battery in a public place.
Wrigleyville crime pattern
Violent robberies and late-night attacks along Clark Street have been a recurring safety concern in the Wrigleyville corridor. Police have repeatedly issued community alerts after clusters of incidents in recent years in and around the 3500 block of North Clark and nearby streets, a broader pattern documented in local coverage and police notices, per CBS Chicago.
Arrest, record and next steps
Court filings and police records reviewed by reporters show Laird has prior arrests in Chicago going back to 2014, with earlier cases that at times included charges of first-degree murder and resisting or obstructing peace officers. He is scheduled for a detention hearing on Friday, June 6, 2026, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Prosecutors will decide after that hearing whether to seek to keep him in custody.
Legal notes
The counts against Laird include armed robbery while allegedly carrying a dangerous weapon and aggravated unlawful restraint. Under the Illinois Criminal Code, robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon is treated as a Class X-level offense, and aggravated unlawful restraint is classified as a Class 3 felony, according to the Illinois General Assembly’s criminal code.
