CHICAGO — A man who allegedly barricaded himself inside a Coca-Cola truck, prompting a SWAT team response in the West Loop on Wednesday morning, has been detained by a Cook County judge.
Coke’s delivery driver returned to his truck after making a delivery in the 900 block of West Madison around 11 a.m. and noticed a man walking among the soda cases in the back of his rig, a CPD report said.
“What are you trying to do? Steal?” the driver reportedly asked the man.
Police said the driver hopped off the truck and closed the trailer door. But the man inside repeatedly kicked the trailer bed, causing damage to the door lock and ledge, “barricading” himself inside, the report stated.
After partially opening the door, cops and a CPD supervisor ordered the man to follow their commands, but he refused, according to the report. Ultimately, the supervisor called in a SWAT team to assist with the man who “barricaded himself inside the trailer bed,” the report said.
A SWAT officer was able to enter the truck shortly after noon to take the man into custody.
The man, identified by police as 46-year-old Travis Prewitt, was taken to the University of Illinois Hospital for shortness of breath and other health issues, the report stated.
As officers led him back to a squad car to take him back to the station, Prewitt broke away from an officer and ran two blocks while handcuffed before cops caught up with him, according to the report.
He is charged with felony counts of burglary, escape from a peace officer, and criminal damage, as well as misdemeanor counts of criminal damage, trespassing to a vehicle, and resisting.
Judge Mary Marubio granted the state’s detention petition during a court hearing on Friday.
Original reporting you’ll see nowhere else, paid for by our readers. Click here to support our work.
