A man who is suspected of forcing his way at gunpoint into a West Side currency exchange Monday morning and making off with about $100,000 in cash was arrested an hour later after he attempted to flee a traffic stop on the South Side, police said.
Charges were pending against the man, whom police arrested in the 6200 block of South Vernon Avenue, after he crashed his car and ran, carrying money and his handgun in a clear plastic garbage bag, police said.
Police said the man entered the secure area of the Western and Lake Currency Exchange, 149 N. Western Ave., at about 10:30 a.m. Monday.
When the staff opened the door to let in a janitor, the man pushed the janitor to the ground and brandished the gun, police said.
He forced the cashier to empty several drawers of cash and bundles of Chicago vehicle stickers into a garbage-can bag, police said.
