A man in Lombard was attempting to sell a car, but instead he was kidnapped, beaten and bitten by three offenders, who were later released by a DuPage County judge under the Illinois SAFE-T Act (also known as the Pretrial Fairness Act).
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Lombard Chief of Police Thomas Wirsing announced today that three Cook County men are facing multiple felony charges for allegedly kidnapping and beating a man Wednesday afternoon, November 6, 2024. Philip Stamps, Sr., age 47, of the 2300 block of North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, Philip Stamps, Jr., age 22, of the 1400 block of South Springfield Avenue, Chicago, and Joevontae Dixon, age 23, of the 0-99 block of Lind Avenue, Hillside, each appeared in First Appearance Court, Thursday morning, November 7, 2024, where Judge Joshua Dieden denied the State’s motion to detain all three men. Each defendant is charged with one count of Aggravated Kidnapping – Dangerous Weapon (Class X Felony), one count of Armed Robbery (Class X Felony) and one count of Aggravated Battery in a Public Place (Class 3 Felony).
On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at approximately 12:03 p.m., Lombard police officers responded to a call of a fight in progress at the BP Gas Station located at 5 East North Avenue in Lombard. Upon their arrival, officers found that all the men involved in the fight had left the gas station scene, but associated with the individuals fighting, was an Infinity Q45, later determined to be the victim’s vehicle.
Following an investigation into the matter, police determined the victim met Stamps Jr. to potentially sell him his Infinity. Stamps Jr. allegedly took the Infinity for a test drive, and Dixon and Stamps Sr. allegedly followed behind in a Chrysler minivan — with Dixon driving the minivan. Stamps Jr. pulled into the BP gas station and got out to inspect the car at which time Dixon and Stamps Sr., who had followed them into the gas station, got out of the minivan. Stamps Jr. allegedly got into the minivan after taking the victim’s briefcase, which contained approximately forty car titles, the victim’s cellphone and the victim’s computer.
The victim went into the minivan to retrieve his briefcase, and Stamps Jr. allegedly punched him and hit him on the head. Then Stamps Sr. allegedly drove the victim out of the parking lot against his will with Stamps Jr. and Dixon in the minivan as well. The offenders and the victim traveled eastbound on I-290 to Chicago, while the defendants repeatedly threatened to kill the victim and his family, hit and kicked the victim, and beat him with a red steering wheel anti-theft club. The defendants allegedly forced the victim to contact his family and have them Zelle money to his account. On two occasions, the victim attempted to escape, but both of those attempts failed, and he was allegedly beaten and bitten by Stamps Jr. and Dixon.
At approximately 3:13 p.m. Wednesday, the minivan was located by police in the area of California and Van Buren in Chicago. A traffic stop was conducted, and all three defendants were taken into custody. Police officers also located the victim who had allegedly been repeatedly beaten by the defendants. He was found suffering from bite marks on his arms and stomach and numerous swelled contusions to his head and body. He was immediately transported to a local hospital for medical attention, where he is being treated for his injuries.
“The type of violent behavior alleged against these three defendants is extremely alarming and will not be tolerated in DuPage County. The victim allegedly endured a severe physical beating, kidnapping and three hours of terror inflicted upon him by these three defendants. I thank the Lombard Police Department for their outstanding work in identifying the individuals allegedly responsible for kidnapping, beating and robbing an innocent man. I also thank the Elmhurst and Chicago Police Departments, the Office of Homeland Security and the FBI for their assistance in the apprehension of the defendants, as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Adam Frahm and Michael Paup for their work in securing charges against these three men.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin
“The Lombard Police Department would like to thank the Elmhurst and Chicago Police Departments, the Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance in apprehending the offenders and bringing a successful resolution in locating the victim. We would also like to thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his staff for their assistance on this case.”
— Lombard Chief of Police Thomas Wirsing
The next court appearance for all three defendants is scheduled for December 2, 2024, in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell. If found guilty, all three defendants face a penalty of between six to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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