DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Oak Brook Police Chief James Kruger announced last week that bond has been set for a Florida man accused of robbing a woman of her car from the Oak Brook Shopping Center.
Anthony Riola, 39, of Florida, appeared at a bond hearing, where Judge Brian Telander set bond at $500,000 with 10% to apply. In all, Riola has been charged with one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking (Class X Felony), one count of Armed Violence (Class X Felony), one count of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Theft Over $10,000 (Class 2 Felony.)
It is alleged that at 11:50 a.m., December 29, 2018, Riola approached a woman seated in her car in the Oak Brook Center parking lot. It is alleged that Riola told the woman, “Give me your car,” and that he told her he had a knife and then brandished the weapon. According to Berlin’s report, Riola entered the vehicle after the woman fled but was unable to start the vehicle as he did not have the keys. Riola then left that vehicle and approached a valet parking attendant and entered a running vehicle and drove away, while the valet attendant and owner of the vehicle stood nearby.
An investigation by the Oak Brook Police Department led to Riola who was apprehended in Chicago later than day.
“My office will do everything within our power to ensure that DuPage County residents will not have to worry about their personal safety while out shopping, dining or otherwise enjoying themselves … ,” Berlin said.
Riola’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 28, 2019, for arraignment in front of Judge George Bakalis.
Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt.
