Crime & Safety

Man Arrested for Knifing Driver Near ETHS Last Month

The victim had just dropped his son off at the high school for final exams.

Evanston Police have arrested a 44-year-old Evanston man whom they say knifed a father who had just dropped off his son at Evanston Township High School last month.

Harry P. Jackson was arrested Monday on charges of attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery, according to a press release from the police department.

Police said they caught Jackson with the help of an anonymous tip and witnesses to the crime.

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The incident occurred June 11 when a robber stopped a car, demanded the driver’s money and cut the driver multiple times with a knife, police said.

The 54-year-old driver was on his way home from dropping off his son for finals at ETHS around 7:50 a.m. when the man walked out into the intersection of Davis Street and Darrow Avenue, blocking the father’s way, according to police. The robber reached through the driver’s side window and grabbed onto the steering wheel and gear shift, police said. Then the man held up what appeared to be a box cutter and demanded the father’s money. 

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He cut the father in the left arm, right hand and head before the man ran away, without getting any money.

The day of the crime, police found a jacket they believed the man was wearing in a backyard nearby, and witnesses to the attack were also questions. However, police said they were not able to identify a subject at the time.

Then, detectives got some help from an anonymous tip to the Chicago Police Department, naming Jackson, the press release said. From there, multiple witnesses identified Jackson from both photos and a physical line-up, police said.

Jackson has a court date set for July 24 at 9 a.m.

Evanston police expressed their thanks to the witnesses who helped with the case as well as the Chicago Police Department.


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