RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, A retired Chicago Homicide Detective and his 28-year-old son have been credited with capturing a suspected car thief in the Hyde Park community on May 10, 2014, following a three-block foot chase; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, The incident occurred at 11 a.m. in the 5100-block of South Lake Park Avenue when a teenaged suspect jumped inside an unattended BMW that had been, left running at a BP gas station; and
WHEREAS, As the car thief drove off with the vehicle, its owner lunged inside the open driver's side window and grabbed the steering wheel; and
WHEREAS, The BMW spun out of control, struck a nearby Mercedes Benz, and threw the stolen car's owner onto the ground; and
WHEREAS, The stolen car's owner was then pinned beneath and run over by a third vehicle, causing further serious injury; and
WHEREAS, The BMW finally came to a halt when it crashed into a brick wall in the 5200-block of South Lake Park Avenue; and
WHEREAS, When the thief exited the stolen car and attempted to flee, retired Chicago Detective Gerald Hamilton and his son, Randall Brown, jumped into action and gave chase; and
WHEREAS, In an attempt to lose his pursuers, the suspect fled into a nearby L.A. Fitness Club and quickly exited through the back door; and
WHEREAS, Due to Gerald Hamilton's keen instincts and extensive police training, the father-and-son duo anticipated the teenager's every move and finally tackled him in a nearby parking lot; and
WHEREAS, Gerald Hamilton and Randall Brown held onto the teenager until police arrived at the scene and placed him under arrest; and
WHEREAS, Back at the location where the incident began, it took ten people to lift the car off of the 34-year-old victim who was taken by ambulance in serious condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital; and
WHEREAS, Detective Hamilton retired from the Chicago Police Department in 2010 after serving for 28 years as a law enforcement officer; and
WHEREAS, A longtime foster parent who has worked with numerous children for decades, Gerald Hamilton has demonstrated on numerous occasions his unwavering dedication and commitment to his community; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-eighth day of May, 2014, do hereby recognize and commend retired Chicago Police Detective Gerald Hamilton and his son Randall Brown for their heroic and meritorious actions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Gerald Hamilton and Randall Brown.
Alderman - 14th Ward