Chicago, IL – Four people are facing felony burglary charges after a drone operated by railroad police spotted an overnight cargo theft in a South Side rail yard early Thursday morning.
According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened around 12:30 a.m. Thursday when sheriff’s deputies were assisting Norfolk Southern Railroad Police during a joint operation targeting cargo theft. A railroad-operated drone observed three individuals allegedly removing boxes from a Norfolk Southern rail yard in the 4000 block of South Ashland Avenue.
Authorities said the drone followed the group as they carried the boxes to a minivan parked near Pershing Road and Wolcott Avenue, then entered the vehicle. When Cook County Sheriff’s Police attempted to stop the minivan, the vehicle allegedly tried to flee, nearly causing a head-on collision with a marked squad car.
The driver eventually complied with officers’ commands, and all five people inside the minivan were taken into custody without further incident, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators said officers recovered a box containing a touch-screen monitor with a stand from inside the minivan. The item was consistent with other boxes taken from a burglarized cargo container in the rail yard. Additional boxes were also found nearby along Wolcott Avenue.
Four individuals were charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor trespassing on a railroad right of way: Marquist Bucker, 29, of Chicago; Lamont Davis, 18, of South Holland; Elijah Jackson, 20, of Calumet City; and Raymond Russell, 33, of Chicago. A fifth person, Dazia Lige, 22, of Chicago, was charged with misdemeanor trespassing on a railroad right of way.
All four burglary suspects were released from custody following their initial court appearances Friday at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse, authorities said. The fifth defendant was also released.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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