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Man Robbed Outside Art Institute in Middle of the Day: Prosecutors

By Erin Meyer | July 9, 2014 4:16pm
 Travione Byars, of Gresham, is charged with robbing a man outside the Art Institute of Chicago just before noon on June 28, authorities said.
Travione Byars, of Gresham, is charged with robbing a man outside the Art Institute of Chicago just before noon on June 28, authorities said.
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Chicago Police Department

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A man robbed outside the Art Institute of Chicago in the middle of the day last month believed his assailants were armed, prosecutors said.

The victim was taking a break on a bench outside the art museum, 111 S. Michigan Ave., at noon on June 28 when two men approached and demanded that he hand over his possessions, prosecutors said. The alleged robbers reached for their waistbands as if to indicate that they had a gun.

When the victim tried to stand up, one of the robbers punched him in the face, and both started rifling through his pockets, prosecutors said.

They grabbed a Ventra card, Chapstick and $3, according to a police report, and then took off.

Travione Byars, 22, of the 8400 block of South Seeley Avenue, was later identified by the victim as one of the men who attacked him, prosecutors said.

Byars was arrested at his home Tuesday and appeared before a judge Wednesday.

He was ordered held on $90,000 bail.

Byars' alleged accomplice remains at-large.

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