OAK BROOK, Ill. – Pretrial release has been denied for two women accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from two Oak Brook stores before striking four vehicles, including two police cruisers during their escape attempt.
Martasia Barney, a 26-year-old Chicago resident, and Psy’che Hayes, a 35-year-old Dubuque, Iowa resident, were each charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of retail theft, two counts of criminal mischief to government-supported properties, two counts of criminal damage to property and one count of aggravated assault, according to DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin.
The charges were handed down following an investigation that began in late June after a woman’s wallet was stolen.
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According to prosecutors, following the alleged theft of the woman’s wallet on June 25, authorities identified two suspects and a Volvo believed to be involved in the incident.
Prosecutors said that about two weeks later, on July 8, officers with the Oak Brook Police Department spotted the two suspects, who were later identified as Barney and Hayes, entering the Oakbrook Center from the True Food Kitchen next door. northwest of the mall.
Authorities began surveilling the pair’s Volvo after officers allegedly spotted the two women carrying empty Forever 21 bags as they approached the mall shortly before 6:30 p.m.
Prosecutors said the Volvo, which was parked in a parking space, was left running with its headlights on.
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26-year-old Martasia Barney (right) and 35-year-old Psy’che Hayes (left) were each charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of retail theft, two counts of criminal damage to supported property by the government, two counts of criminal damage to property and one count of aggravated assault in connection with an alleged retail theft in DuPage County. -
Psy’che Hayes, 35, was charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of retail theft, two counts of criminal damage to government supported property, two counts of criminal damage to property and one count of aggravated assault in connection with an alleged retail theft in DuPage County. -
Martasia Barney, 26, was charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of retail theft, two counts of criminal damage to government supported property, two counts of criminal damage to property and one count of aggravated assault in connection with a alleged retail theft in DuPage County.
As officers watched the Volvo, prosecutors said they spotted the pair returning and getting into the car before leaving and returning to the mall with the same empty bags.
According to prosecutors, as the two women were returning to their car for the second time, an Oak Brook police officer approached them in his patrol car, but the two women ran toward the vehicle and got in.
The officer activated his emergency lights and sirens and attempted to stop the two women by parking his cruiser in front of the car, but Barney, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, drove the Volvo into the cruiser in an attempt to flee the scene.
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When the officer exited his cruiser and approached the Volvo, Barney allegedly backed the vehicle, forcing the officer to jump out of the way.
During the escape attempt, prosecutors said Barney allegedly struck two other nearby vehicles and another police cruiser that had active emergency lights and sirens.
Officers were eventually able to break the windows of the Volvo and took the two women into custody.
According to prosecutors, during her arrest, Hayes allegedly told officers that the incident was “no big deal” and that she “would be out tomorrow.”
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A subsequent investigation revealed that the pair allegedly stole approximately $2,714 worth of clothing from Aritzia and approximately $3,282 worth of clothing from Alo Yoga.
“It is alleged that these two defendants stole nearly $6,000 worth of merchandise from two Oakbrook Center stores and then, in an effort to escape, crashed their vehicle into four other vehicles, two of which were police cruisers, nearly striking a police officer. , are extremely alarming,” Berlin said in a press release on Tuesday afternoon. “The denial of pretrial release to Ms. Hayes and Ms. Barney sends a strong message that in DuPage County we will not tolerate the complete and utter disregard for public safety and the rule of law allegedly exhibited by Ms.
During a court hearing Tuesday, the state’s motion to detain the two women before trial was granted.
Both women are scheduled to return to court on Monday, August 5, for arraignment.
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