For a guy admittedly "in shock" after being robbed at gunpoint byfive teenagers in broad daylight, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) pulledhimself together in a hurry.
The alderman had the guts and presence of mind to call 911 andkeep a dispatcher on the line for five to seven minutes while hefollowed the thieves and reported on their whereabouts.
Tunney's cool head helped Chicago Police nab two teens and chargethem with attempted robbery with a gun. Three alleged accompliceswere questioned and released.
"I was in shock. But I was thankful there was nothing moreviolent. They didn't harm me in any way -- other than put the fearof God in me," Tunney said Monday in his first public comment aboutthe Saturday afternoon incident in the 3300 block of North Seminary.
"To be honest, I was not feeling in harm's way. . . . I thoughtthe kids were pretty naive, but I wasn't taking anything forgranted. . . . I wanted to keep track of them while I had 911 on theline. I thought I was at a safe distance where they may or may nothave seen me following."
Tunney said the robbery occurred about 1:30 p.m.
"I wasn't looking at oncoming pedestrians -- until they showed methe gun and said, 'Give me your wallet. Give me your money.' I wasin shock. I just cooperated with these people and hoped they wouldtake my wallet and that's it. When they decided to give me my walletback because it didn't have any money, I was relieved."
The teens, charged as adults with robbing Tunney, appeared inbond court on Monday. Judge Raymond Myles set bond for $250,000apiece for Pierre Jolly and Brandon Harbin, both 16.
According to Assistant State's Attorney Jose Villarreal, Jollyshowed the alderman a .22-caliber handgun and Harbin demanded money.
When Tunney handed over his wallet, Harbin took out a dollar billand a piece of paper and handed the wallet back to Tunney, thestate's attorney said.
Ten minutes later, the two men tried to rob a pizza delivery man,but fled the scene empty-handed and ditched the gun nearby,officials said.
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