Prosecutors reported that a suspect allegedly stole a Lyft driver’s car on Chicago’s West Side but needed assistance from the victim on how to operate the vehicle before driving away with an accomplice. The vehicle was later found parked near the suspect’s residence.
According to prosecutors’ filings, a 29-year-old Lyft driver received a ride request at around 12:28 a.m. on July 12 and picked up Joshua Pittman, 21, along with another unidentified individual. The ride took about 10 minutes to reach the 1900 block of South Springfield Avenue, with both passengers seated in the back.
Upon arrival, the driver stopped the car under a streetlight, awaiting the passengers’ exit. Prosecutors stated that the unidentified man exited first, followed by Pittman, who was sitting directly behind the driver, placing him in a chokehold. Simultaneously, the accomplice brandished a “large rifle style gun” and demanded the driver’s belongings, forcing him out of the 2025 Honda Civic, as detailed in the filing.
Pittman reportedly took the victim’s phone, cash tips, credit card, watch, and a gold chain that was a memento from the victim’s late father. The accomplice then assumed the driver’s seat while Pittman remained in the back.
However, the two encountered a problem when the accomplice struggled to operate the car. Pittman sought help from the victim for instructions on how to use the vehicle. Afterward, the suspects drove off, according to prosecutors.
Later that morning, shortly after 11 a.m., officers on patrol recognized Pittman from previous encounters, along with another man matching the suspects’ descriptions, in an alley behind the 1800 block of South Ridgeway Avenue, as per prosecutors.
The suspects fled upon seeing the police, but officers retraced their path and discovered the stolen Honda Civic parked near Pittman’s home. Detectives included Pittman’s photo in a lineup, and the Lyft driver identified him as the person who had attacked him and stolen his belongings, according to prosecutors.
Judge Luciano Panici Jr. ordered Pittman’s detention on charges of aggravated vehicular hijacking and aggravated battery. Records indicate that Pittman was sentenced to three years in prison for a previous robbery on Chicago’s West Side.
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