Latest news with #pepper spray
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Man charged with robbing bank in Northbrook, Illinois; attacking tellers with pepper spray and fire extinguisher
A Chicago man has been charged with robbing a bank in north suburban Northbrook, and attacking tellers with pepper spray and a fire extinguisher. Emeril England, 25, is charged with one count of bank robbery. According to the FBI, England walked into the Huntington Bank at 1220 Meadow Road in Northbrook shortly before 9:30 a.m. on May 28, wearing a hoodie, a black hat, black gloves, and what appeared to be fake dreadlocks. Once inside the bank, he pulled out a water gun, and sprayed two tellers with pepper spray. He then pulled a fire extinguisher out of a black bag and sprayed the two tellers, who both ran into nearby offices. Surveillance video shows Emeril England using a fire extinguisher to spray two bank tellers after also attacking them with pepper spray, before stealing nearly $5,000 in cash in Northbrook, Illinois, on May 28, 2025. FBI A short time later, one of the tellers came back out and triggered the bank's alarm. Meantime, England had stolen $4,915 in cash from an unlocked teller drawer, and fled the scene in a silver Toyota Avalon. Using surveillance video and license plate reader cameras in the area, Northbrook police were able to track the car to England's apartment in Chicago. When officers served England with a search warrant, he told them the items they were looking for were under the bed, where police found a plastic bag containing a pellet gun, a dreadlocks wig, a black "SECURITY" hat, a can of pepper spray, a hoodie, a box of black nitrile gloves, and a large amount of cash. Police arrested England, who admitted to planning the robbery, including by ordering the wig online one week earlier, and bringing the pepper spray to intimidate people in the bank. He explained that when he got to the bank, he went to the restroom and grabbed a fire extinguisher to use to get the tellers away from the bank drawers so he could get to the cash inside. England made his first court appearance on Monday, and at his detention hearing on Wednesday, a judge ordered him to remain in custody while he awaits trial. The judge also ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation, after the tellers at the bank told the FBI they believed England might be mentally challenged.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Pair pepper-sprayed employees, robbed downtown Chicago nail salons after receiving services
A couple who had just received hundreds of dollars in spa services was recently caught on video attacking and stealing from nail salon employees in downtown Chicago. Chicago Police have issued a warning to downtown businesses to stay alert after another similar incident days later. Nail salons rely on walk-ins. Yet when a man and woman came to get services on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 28, the owner of the Pure Rain Nail Spa, at 437 S. Dearborn St., said it felt like something was off. And it turned out something was indeed off — after three hours of full services, the couple pulled out pepper spray and ripped off employees instead of paying. There were screams of fear and pain as two employees of the nail spa tried to get the burning sensation out of their eyes. "They were screaming and screaming, and I was panicked," said Pure Rain Nail Spa owner Nadiy Nadmid. Video showed the man and woman attacking the salon workers with pepper spray before robbing them and leaving the business. Nadmid said the man and woman both got their feet and toes done. "Almost $200 for service, and they had been there almost three hours," she said. Yet during the services, video shows the man pacing through the salon. At one point, an employee realized her cellphone was missing. "She called her cellphone from the salon cellphone, and then it's ringing in the guy's bag," Nadmid said. The man claimed he accidentally picked up the employee's phone, so the employees snapped the images of the man and woman — thinking they might be trouble. But the employees never imagined it would get physical. When it came time to pay, police said the pair sprayed pepper spray and stole purses. "I just wanted to make sure people should be aware of this incident, like us," said Nadmid, "and that's why I'm releasing this video and pictures." Pure Rain has operated from its location on Dearborn Street off Ida B. Wells Drive for 15 years. The owners say they have never seen anything like the robbery before. But it turned out that days later, Chicago police said the same pair walked into OMG Nails & Spa, at 1620 S. Michigan Ave. in the South Loop, and did the very same thing. Police said on Sunday, June 1, they got services and then assaulted and robbed employees. Police said the man in the criminal duo stands about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 160 to 180 pounds, and his right hand is wrapped or bruised. The woman stands about 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 220 to 240 pounds, and has a tattoo over her cheek. The CPD said posing as paying customers allows the employees to let their guard down. "I just hope they should understand we're trying our best, and everything to provide safety to our employees and customers," said Nadmid. As police search for the pair, the owner wants every salon in the area to be on the lookout before they strike again. "I hope they get arrested soon as possible," said Nadmid. Nadmid also said she is considering getting a security guard. Anyone with information on these robberies is asked to call Belmont Area detectives at 312-744-8263, or submit an anonymous tip to and use reference #25-3-025.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Telegraph
Police officer ‘laughed about colleague pepper-spraying man, 92, who later died'
A police officer laughed about a colleague using a can of pepper spray in a 'stand-off' with a 92-year-old care home resident who died weeks later, a court has heard. Jurors were shown body-worn video footage of officers in the moments after Donald Burgess, a single-leg amputee and wheelchair user, was restrained at Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex. At one point in the confrontation, Mr Burgess, visibly distressed, told the officers: 'I'm dying.' Pc Stephen Smith, 51, and Pc Rachel Comotto, 36, are on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in June 2022. Smith denies two counts of assault, relating to his use of Pava spray and a baton, while Comotto denies one count, for discharging her Taser. It is alleged that within 83 seconds of entering Mr Burgess's room, Smith emptied a full canister of synthetic pepper spray into Mr Burgess's face and struck him with a baton, and Comotto deployed her Taser. Mr Burgess was admitted to hospital after the incident, and died 22 days later after contracting Covid-19. In one video clip shown to the jury, Comotto is seen laughing and asking Smith: 'Oh my God, is there any left in your can?' Smith replies: 'Probably not.' Smith described the incident to another officer as 'a stand-off'. The court has been told police were called because Mr Burgess was threatening staff with a small cutlery knife, and saying he would take pleasure in murdering them. Smith told his colleague: 'Even after spraying he clutched on to it (the knife) … Just a stand-off with him – gave him all the options.' Prosecutors say the force used against Mr Burgess was excessive and unnecessary given his age and physical condition. The footage also showed officers coughing heavily after the spray was deployed, and Comotto is heard saying: 'I just hate Pava. It's just horrible, isn't it?' Comotto said she only learned of Mr Burgess's age after the incident and was 'very shocked', having thought he was much younger. 'I treated Mr Burgess with respect and courtesy before and after the force was used,' she added. The trial continues.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- The Independent
Video shows police pepper-spraying and Tasering 92-year-old disabled man
This is the moment that police spray a 92-year-old disabled man in the face with pepper spray, before shooting him with a Taser and hitting him with a baton. Donald Burgess, a one-legged man, had been seen poking a care worker in the stomach with a knife before the incident. In the video, Pc Stephen Smith tells Mr Burgess to 'put the knife on the floor now or you'll be sprayed'. He then sprays Mr Burgess in the face. Pc Smith then extends his baton while Pc Rachel Comotto yells: 'Taser, Taser!' Both officers are on trial, charged with assault.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Police used ‘reasonable' force during arrest of Sex Education star, watchdog finds
Officers used reasonable force in the arrest of Sex Education star Reece Richards after he was mistaken for a suspect before being 'kicked and pepper sprayed.' The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the use of force 'was reasonable in the circumstances,' in the conclusion of its investigation into the matter. Mr Richards, who plays Eugene in the Netflix series, said he was sprayed with pepper spray, thrown to the ground and kicked by officers when he was arrested in Fulham, west London, in September last year. A video of the incident captured on CCTV shows a vehicle that was being pursued by officers crash nearby Mr Richards, who was then mistaken as the driver. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said an investigation found 'no indication that any officers acted in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence'. The watchdog also did not uphold a complaint by Richards that he was treated in a discriminatory manner because he was black. IOPC director Amanda Rowe acknowledged the actor was an innocent bystander and that it 'would have been a frightening experience'. She went on: 'Mr Richards' complaint detailed his understandable belief that he was detained and arrested because he was black, although the suspects were white. 'We found that officers were responding to a fast-moving incident and – given the only description of the suspects was that one was wearing dark clothing and their location – it was reasonable that the officer who saw Mr Richards and detained him thought he was a suspect. 'The evidence indicated that the officers' use of force was reasonable in the circumstances they encountered and perceived and Mr Richards was de-arrested as soon officers confirmed he was not involved.' Richards said his arrest took place 'just yards from my front door' after he had finished performing in a production of Hairspray The Musical in the early hours of September 4 2024. The Metropolitan Police officers were pursuing a car flagged as wanted when the vehicle crashed and those inside ran off, the IOPC said. The only description given to the officers was that one suspect was in dark clothing. CCTV footage showed Richards walking along Fulham Palace Road, near to the collision, when one of the suspects ran past him, chased by an officer. Richards dropped his backpack and ran, the watchdog said. A lone officer then mistook Richards for one of the suspects, stopped the actor and withdrew his PAVA spray but did not discharge it, the IOPC said. Two more officers arrived and told Richards to get to the ground. There was a 'struggle' and one of the officers PAVA-sprayed Richards and he was handcuffed, the IOPC said. The actor told them he was innocent and his mother later arrived at the scene. Richards was de-arrested 14 minutes after he was stopped, the IOPC said. The actor said on Instagram after the incident that he was the victim of an 'unlawful arrest'. He added: 'I was confused, unable to understand why I was suddenly being treated like a criminal. 'Calmly, I explained that I was a performer returning from a show, but one officer yelled, 'get to the floor or I'll pepper spray you'. 'Moments later, three more officers ran at me. They pepper sprayed me, kicked my legs out from under me, threw me to the ground and handcuffed me. 'In a flash, I was face-down on the pavement with multiple officers holding me down, forcing my head into the ground. 'I was already injured from the show, but having four officers on top of me worsened my injuries to my back, ribs and stomach.' Met Police Commander Owain Richards said: 'We are pleased the IOPC was able to determine the officers acted in good faith and appropriately. 'This was a fast-moving incident during which they were trying to detain three men who had fled from police during a pursuit. Their use of force was reasonable in the circumstances. 'Mr Richards was swiftly de-arrested as soon as officers confirmed he was not a suspect, but we absolutely acknowledge how distressing it must have been to be caught up in such an incident. 'We would be happy to meet him to discuss what happened should he wish to do so.'
