Police charged a 23-year-old Evanston man in connection with theft in south Evanston on Friday.

An Evanston resident was walking and talking on his cell phone in the 400 block of Sherman Avenue when another man walked up, knocked the phone out of his hand and ran off with it, said Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew. The man reported the theft about 2 p.m. to a squad car he spotted on the street.

The officers alerted local law enforcement to look out for a man fitting the description of the person who took the phone, Glew said. When police spotted a similar looking man, they attempted to take him into custody.

Glew said the 23-year-old Evanston resident fell to the ground, preventing officers from handcuffing and transporting him to the police station. Once other officers arrived on the scene, the 23-year-old was positively identified by the man whose phone was taken.

During the incident, one officer sustained a minor injury to her thumb. Police charged the man with theft, resisting and obstructing a police officer.

Evanston man charged in connection with alcohol theft from Jewel Osco

A Jewel-Osco employee called the Evanston Police Department after he spotted a man leaving the store without paying for a bottle of alcohol Monday morning.

The employee spotted the man leaving the store about 5 a.m. with a bottle of scotch whiskey worth $85.99, Glew said. While some officers arrived on the scene to speak with the man who reported the theft, other officers spotted a man fitting the description near the store and took him into custody.

The employee positively identified the 45-year-old Evanston resident and police took him to the station. EPD charged the man with retail theft.

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