On the morning of July 5, a man offered Bennie Gates, a ride from the Chicago Greyhound Bus Station for $40. According to Fox News, after arriving at the Elmhurst Terrace Apartment complex, the man alleges that 19-year-old Gates paid him the $40, got out of the car, and then walked to the driver-side window.
“You didn’t know I had a gun, did you?” is what Gates reportedly told the victim after pulling a gun from his waistband. Gates allegedly demanded back the money and told the driver to get his suitcase out of the trunk of the car.
The victim did what he was told, and Gates walked away. Minutes later, the victim flagged down Elmhurst Police and told him he had been robbed, according to the press release. Officers were able to identify Gates as the alleged assailant, and they began surveilling the area. After several hours, a detective spotted someone wearing a bomber jacket and a beanie with long hair jump into an Uber, and this is where the chase began.
Although creative, Gates’ alleged plan didn’t take him far. Police following the Uber and initiated a traffic stop. Once police approached the vehicle, they recognized Gates, who was wearing a wig. Gates reportedly ran from the car in an attempt to flee, crossing six lanes of traffic. He was later apprehended in a garage with the help of a helicopter, K-9 officers, and drones.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said “Thanks to the vigilance and outstanding, heads-up work of the Elmhurst Police Department, Mr. Gates’ attempt to disguise himself as a woman did not fool anyone,” in a news release Sunday.
Gates has been charged with one count of armed robbery with a firearm. He appeared in court on Sunday morning, and is scheduled to be arraigned on July 29.