Crime & Safety

Hinsdale Man Who Chased Down Armed Robbery Suspect Honored

Richard Dynis and another witness chased and caught the suspect in a parking lot near downtown Hinsdale and held him until police arrived.

Richard Dynis was honored by the at Tuesday night’s Board of Trustees meeting for going above and beyond the duties of a good witness when he chased down and restrained an alleged armed robber in the village last month.

The incident began when suspect David Quevedo walked into the Hinsdale Clock and Watch Shop on the morning of July 10, indicated he had a gun (it turned out he did not), and attempted to rob the store. The woman behind the counter screamed for help, which alerted several witnesses who called police, and Quevedo took off running.

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Dynis, a Hinsdale resident, was working nearby and saw the perpetrator flee. Dynis chased Quevedo down the alley behind 1st Street and into the central business district, before the witness lost site of the offender. Another witness, Laura O’Neill, was driving in the area and was able to keep site of Quevedo, and helped Dynis pursue him.

The two witnesses found Quevedo hiding under a car in a parking lot at 1st and Grant streets. The perpetrator ran away again, but Dynis was able to get a hold of him.

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“Mr. Dynis put himself in harm’s way to stop the perpetrator from running away,” Deputy Police Chief Mark Wodka said. “He was able to hold him to the ground and within moments … one of our officers was there to put handcuffs on him.”

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Chief Brad Bloom said the situation was dangerous but the police department likely would not have been able to catch the suspect without Dynis’ help.

“Mr. Dynis could have run, he could have hid, but he put his own safety in jeopardy by pursuing this person,” Bloom said. “It’s certainly not something we would encourage someone to do, but he has certainly earned our appreciation.”

Wodka said there were six or seven witnesses who went above and beyond during the incident. The department also plans on honoring O’Neill, who could not attend Tuesday night.

Despite not having a gun, the 20-year-old Quevedo, who is from Chicago, was charged with armed robbery.


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