COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A quick-thinking AT&T employee helped police catch the armed robber responsible for Tuesday's SWAT standoff in Logan Square by slipping a "dummy phone" with GPS tracking into the man's bag, prosecutors said.
Dreonta Deton, 21, was carrying a loaded 9mm handgun when he stole eight iPhones, an iPad, the GPS device and $147 cash from an AT&T store at 2787 N. Milwaukee Ave. about 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, police said.
Officers were able to track Deton to the 3200 block of West Diversey Avenue, where he was arrested about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday after an hourslong SWAT standoff.
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Deton is charged with armed robbery with a firearm. Bail was set at $250,000.
According to prosecutors, it all started when Deton walked into the AT&T shop and began chatting up a store clerk who was working alone. Deton reportedly said he'd like to buy a cheap phone and asked the employee to get one from the back.
That's when Deton pulled out a 9mm handgun loaded with nine bullets, police and prosecutors said.
The employee filled Deton's bag with iPho nes, cash and a tablet — before tossing in a "dummy phone," or GPS locator designed to look like a cellphone, Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti said during a bond hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S. California Ave.
Deton then forced the store clerk to smash his personal cellphone so he couldn't call 911, prosecutors said.
Using the "dummy phone," police were able to track Deton to an apartment at Diversey and Kedzie avenues, Antonietti said. Deton still had the stolen phones when officers arrested him shortly before 7 p.m. after the SWAT standoff, according to authorities.
Clothing found in the apartment matched the outfit Deton was wearing in surveillance footage, Antonietti said. The store clerk was also able to identify Deton as the robber.
According to prosecutors, Deton admitted to the crime.
Deton, of the 1300 block of South Blue Island Avenue, has no prior criminal history. According to his public defender, Deton lives with his girlfriend and 3-month-old baby; he works in child care.
Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan set bail at $250,000.
