An East Chicago man is accused of taking part in five violent robberies in the Loop and along the Mag Mile last summer that left four of the victims unconscious.
Michael Seawood, 24, of East Chicago, Indiana, is charged with five counts of robbery, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, and aggravated battery in a public place.
According to prosecutors, Seawood and at least one accomplice attacked a 52-year-old Loop resident in the 400 block of North Lower Michigan Avenue around 2:30 a.m. on July 6. During the attack, the victim fell motionless to the ground with a broken jaw that required surgery to have plates installed.
During that altercation, a 28-year-old Las Vegas man tried to intervene, prosecutors said. Seawood also allegedly turned on him, punching him and knocking him to the ground where he also lay motionless.
Once the victims were incapacitated, Seawood and his accomplices searched the victims’ pockets and took cash and phones from both men before leaving the area.
On August 1, Seawood and several accomplices allegedly struck again in the 100 block of East Illinois Street in Streeterville. A 29-year-old man who lives nearby was struck in the back of the head and knocked to the ground, prosecutors said. He lost a phone, wallet and other belongings to the robbers.
The next day, Seawood and two accomplices allegedly attacked and robbed two brothers, ages 19 and 22, near the corner of Michigan Avenue and Lake Street in the Loop. The victims, who live nearby, were walking south on Michigan Avenue when Seawood allegedly punched the younger brother in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and briefly lose consciousness. He quickly regained consciousness and saw Seawood and two other men searching his pockets and stealing his wallet, prosecutors said.
The older brother told police he was also punched and knocked to the ground by one of the perpetrators, but he was unsure who hit him. Once he was on the ground, Seawood and the others allegedly searched his pockets and took his phone, cash and cards.
Three Chicago police officers then recognized Seawood as one of the robbers, prosecutors said.
Judge John Hock held Seawood pending trial.
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