Hungry, offended robber takes car and food: prosecutors

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Updated: February 17, 2012 8:16AM

A hungry robber who took offense to the way another man looked at him at a hot dog stand stole the man’s breakfast and car Saturday morning, authorities say.

When Byron Jones, 19, then crashed the stolen 2000 Ford Focus, he told the cops who arrested him that the victim had “looked at me funny,” according to a police report.

A glowering Jones, of the 8600 block of South Marquette, appeared in court Sunday in handcuffs and leg chains, guarded by double the usual number of Sheriff’s deputies. Even the public defender representing him stood at a safe distance.

Jones had spotted the 44-year-old victim at a Maxwell Street hot dog stand in the 7900 block of South Stony Island, according to a police report. He admitted following the man outside and telling him to “give me his food and keys,” implying he had a gun by adding “run or I’ll pop you,” according to the report.

But Jones, who’s never had a driver’s license, only made it a third of a mile before he crashed the man’s car in the 1700 block of East 79th, where he was arrested at 5:25 a.m., the report says. He told cops he was feeling suicidal, it’s alleged.

Charged with vehicular hijacking and handed six driving tickets, Jones Sunday had his bail set at $100,000 by Judge Israel Desierto.