The Elmhurst Police Department reports the arrest of a man that was wanted by Virginia authorities for bank robbery.
On the morning of Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at approximately 11:00 a.m. a concerned citizen arrived at the Elmhurst Police Station to notify our agency of suspicious activity. The citizen reported that a man who was a prior acquaintance arrived to the Chicago area from Virginia by bus on Monday, September 26, 2022. The man indicated he needed a place to stay so the citizen assisted him in getting a hotel room on the 300 block of N. IL Route 83 in Elmhurst. Later, the citizen received information that the man may have committed a recent bank robbery in Yorktown, Virginia.
The citizen identified the man staying at the hotel as Justin M. Craver, age 45, of Newport News, Virginia. Elmhurst Police officers conducted an inquiry and learned Craver was the subject of a full extradition arrest warrant by the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Department in Virginia for a bank robbery offense. The bank robbery occurred on September 16, 2022 and the offender was armed with a hatchet.
Detectives with the Elmhurst Police Department began a surveillance of the hotel and stationed an arrest team nearby. At approximately 12:20 p.m. Craver was observed exiting the hotel and walking south across nearby North Avenue. Detectives and the arrest team then approached Craver in a parking lot and safely took him into custody. Craver was transported to the Elmhurst Police Department for processing. A search warrant was subsequently executed at the room Craver had been staying at, resulting in the discovery of two knives and a machete.
In consultation with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, Craver was charged with the offenses of Fugitive from Justice and Obstructing Identification. Craver was transported to the DuPage County Jail. The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Department was notified of Craver’s apprehension subsequent to their extradition request.
The Elmhurst Police Department would like to thank the citizen who brought this fugitive to our attention to ensure the public safety of our community.
