Man charged in North, West side armed robberies after crash

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 45-year-old Chicago man was charged in connection with several armed robberies on the North and West sides after he crashed a stolen vehicle.

Police said Willie Clay was involved in an accident in the 2700-block of West 57th Street in the city's Gage Park neighborhood around 10 a.m. Tuesday. The car he was driving was reported stolen after a carjacking in the 1900-block of North Whipple Street on Jan. 8, police said.

Officers found a replica of a semi-automatic weapon in the vehicle. Investigators identified Clay as the suspect in a number of armed robberies on Chicago's North and West sides.

After the crash, Clay was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment, where he was arrested and charged.

Clay, of the 6500-block of South Talman Avenue, faces two felony counts of armed robbery with a firearm and three felony counts of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon.

He is due in bond court on Thursday.