Suspect currently on bond for a Cook County Class X armed habitual criminal felony
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Lombard Chief of Police Roy Newton have announced that bond has been denied for a Chicago man accused of shooting at a Lombard police officer.
Romaine Turner, 21, appeared at a bond hearing where Judge Margaret O’Connell granted the state’s request that bond be denied. Turner has been charged with one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm (Class X felony), one count of armed habitual criminal (Class X felony) and one count of unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon (Class 3 felony).
Turner is currently out on bond for armed habitual criminal, a Class X felony, out of Cook County.
On Oct. 21 at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Lombard Police Department responded to an area in the 1-100 block of W. St. Charles Road for a call of a suspicious incident regarding two males wearing ski masks going into the 7-Eleven.
Upon his arrival, an officer allegedly encountered Turner and another man outside the 7-Eleven. While the officer was speaking with the men, another Lombard police vehicle pulled into the parking lot at which time Turner allegedly fled on foot.
It is alleged that one of the officers followed Turner when he fled. It is further alleged that as Turner ran, he appeared to be holding an object while he was running. It further alleged that Turner ran around the corner of a building and that as the officer rounded the corner, Turner raised a hand gun in the direction of the officer and fired one shot towards the officer. It is alleged that after firing the shot, Turner continued to flee. Turner was taken into custody later that morning while officers were conducting a search along West St. Charles Road.
“There is absolutely no reason whatsoever that Mr. Turner should have been given a cash bond the first time he was charged as an armed habitual criminal,” Berlin said. “Providing a twice convicted felon the opportunity to post a relatively small bond, just $2,500 in Mr. Turner’s Cook County case, put the public and law enforcement at great risk, as alleged in this case.
“I commend the Lombard Police Department for their quick apprehension of the defendant in this case as well as the Villa Park Police Department for their assistance.”
“I would like to thank our responding officers for their efforts as well as the Villa Park Police Department for their invaluable assistance in taking the suspect into custody,” Newton said. “I would like to express my gratitude to the numerous civilians who provided valuable information to our officers which allowed us to quickly apprehend the suspect. I would also like to thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin’s office for their legal guidance throughout this case.”
Turner’s next court appearance is scheduled Nov. 9 for arraignment in front of Judge O’Connell. Both Class X felonies are non-probationable and if found guilty, Turner faces a penalty of between 10 to 45 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
