A 29-year-old man was arrested over the weekend at a Kildeer motel and charged Monday with the armed robbery of a Palatine convenience store, police said.
Charged was Curtis Rayburn, 29, who was arrested at his room at the Rand Motel, 20393 U.S. Highway 12, in the robbery Saturday of the Park ‘n Shop store at 261 W. Dundee Rd., Palatine.
Rayburn allegedly pointed a handgun at the store owner, demanded the money, and escaped with about $400, said Palatine Police Sgt. Tom Murphy. Rayburn then allegedly drove off in an old pickup with another man, Murphy said.
“The owner ran out of the store just as an off-duty police officer was walking out of a nearby restaurant and saw the owner in obvious duress,” Murphy said. Patrol Officer Jack Byrnes followed Rayburn in his own car long enough to get a license plate number, Murphy said.
Also charged in the robbery was the passenger in the getaway truck, James D. Thompson, 34, who was arrested at 2242 N. Rand Rd., Palatine. He was arrested after police traced the license plate.