Crime & Safety
Alleged BB Gun Carjacker Gets $700,000 Bail
A Cook County Circuit Court judge set the bail amount Tuesday morning after considering Jonathan Sarolas, 23, had been out of state prison just 11 days before the carjacking occurred.
Judge Peter Felice was about to set bail Tuesday morning at $500,000 for Jonathan Sarolas, 23, who is accused of .
But considering that Sarolas had been released from state prison just 11 days before the June 25 incident, Felice upped the amount to $700,000 during a bond hearing at Bridgeview Courthouse on Tuesday, July 3.
"So, this is a parole violation?" Felice asked prosecutors. When they confirmed the violation, Felice raised the bail.
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Attorneys for Sarolas asked for a "reasonable bond," noting that the Will County man is a high school graduate and has completed "some college" at Lakewood College.
That information didn't help Sarolas, at a Midlothian Metra station, after . He was charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking, a Class X felony.
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Sarolas didn't speak during the hearing and towered over his attorney with his 6-foot-5-inch frame. Cuts and bruises discolored his face.
Sarolas' attorney declined comment when questioned about the case.
April Schmidt of Woodriver, who police say was Sarolas' accomplice, . According to reports, the pair fled the parking lot of Red Lobster in Orland Park Monday night, after Sarolas held up an employee with a BB pistol and stole her car and purse.
Sarolas and Schmidt drove south in the stolen car on LaGrange, when police started chasing them. They turned west on 167th Street, and turned again onto Liberty Circle where they hit a dead end, as officers followed. Schmidt was picked up near the car and Sarolas ran from police.
Both Schmidt and Sarolas are scheduled to be back in court on July 16.
