By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

Five juveniles were detained by police after trying to rob Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), as he was walking alone through his district the afternoon of Dec. 15. Tunney was not injured.

The alderman was approached on the 3300 block of North Seminary by the youths at about 1:30 p.m.

Two of them, one brandishing a gun, demanded Tunney’s wallet. The three other youths acted as lookouts, according to Tunney.

He turned over his wallet, but the youths seemingly lost their bearings when they saw it had no cash. “They seemed really inexperienced, frankly,” Tunny said of the youths, who threw the wallet back and ran away.

“I immediately called 911 and followed them,” Tunney said. He got a thorough description to the police, who later apprehended the youths.

Two of the youths were charged as adults with armed robbery Dec. 17. Brandon Harbin, 16, of the 4900 block of South Princeton, and Pierre Jolly, 16, of the 7100 block of South Parnell, were ordered held on $250,000 bail.

Police said the pair also face armed robbery charges for attempting to hold up a delivery man in the same area about 10 minutes after their encounter with Tunney.

Tunney admitted to letting his guard down a bit that afternoon.

“I had my head to the ground. I was looking at the sidewalk, noticing some things in the ward. I’m usually more street smart than that,” Tunney said.

But he said that he was happy with the police response to the incident, and that it’s important for everyone in the community to remain vigilant.

“Any neighborhood can have this happen,” he added.