A 32-year-old man is facing charges of robbery after prosecutors alleged he and three accomplices assaulted and robbed an employee at Bally’s Chicago in the restroom of its temporary River North casino late last year.
Abraham Pozo, from Beach Park, has been accused of being involved in a robbery on December 29 at the casino located at 600 North Wabash Avenue. Prosecutors allege that a 26-year-old employee was attacked and had his watch stolen by a group of men who questioned him about his gang affiliation inside a restroom.
According to the detention petition, the incident occurred around 2 a.m. when the employee was washing his hands. Several men approached and inquired about his gang affiliation. After he stated he was not in a gang, one of the men blocked the exit while two others began assaulting him. As the victim fell, Pozo and another man reportedly entered the restroom and continued the attack by kicking him, prosecutors stated.
While the employee was on the floor, one of the attackers, allegedly Pozo, reportedly took the victim’s watch from his wrist after searching his pockets. The group then fled the scene, captured on surveillance video entering a silver Honda with a visible license plate. Investigators traced the vehicle registration back to Pozo.
Security personnel at the casino reviewed footage and identified Pozo and the others as having shown identification upon entering the premises. Prosecutors mentioned that Pozo used his passport at the entrance, confirming his presence during the robbery.
The investigation faced a challenge when the victim could not identify Pozo in a photo lineup. However, progress was made when Pozo was later detained at Soldier Field for a misdemeanor battery charge. Detectives sent casino surveillance images to the officers who apprehended Pozo at the stadium, and they confirmed his identity from the photos, according to prosecutors.
Judge Luciano Panici, Jr. has ordered Pozo to be held on one count of felony robbery. Following the robbery, a Bally’s spokesperson acknowledged the incident in a statement to CWBChicago, emphasizing their commitment to safety and cooperation with local authorities and regulatory bodies.
“Bally’s Chicago is aware of a security-related incident that occurred on our property late last evening,” the spokesperson said. “The safety and well-being of our guests, team members, and community remain our top priority. We are working with local authorities and our regulatory body actively on this case. Bally’s remains committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment.”
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