Bond Set at $450,000 for Second Chicago Man Charged with Attempting to Carjack a Woman at Gunpoint in Downers Grove

November 04, 2021


DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin and Downers Grove Chief of Police Shanon Gillette announced today that bond has been set for the second of two Chicago men accused of attempting to carjack a woman's car from a Downers Grove gas station and robbing her of her cell phone.

Pierre Baugh, 23 (d.o.b. 3/31/1998) of the 7000 block of S. Dante Avenue, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Ann Celine O'Hallaren Walsh set bond at $450,000 with 10% to apply. Baugh has been charged with one count of Attempt Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking With a Firearm (Class 1 Felony) and one count of Armed Robbery with a Firearm (Class X Felony). Baugh's co-defendant, Demario Butler, 30 (d.o.b. 4/8/1991) of the 4300 block of W. Maypole, Chicago is facing the same charges. On October 25, 2021, Butler appeared in Bond Court where bond was set at $500,000 with 10% to apply.

On September 30, 2021, at approximately 1:19 p.m., officers with the Downers Grove Police Department were dispatched to the BP gas station located at 4314 Main Street, Downers Grove, for a call of an armed robbery and attempted vehicular hijacking that had just occurred. Upon their arrival, officers spoke to the victim and several other witnesses at the gas station. It is alleged that the victim was at the gas station when two people approached her, Butler on the driver's side of the vehicle and Baugh on the passenger side of the vehicle. It is alleged that Butler was holding a black handgun next to his face with the barrel pointed upward and demanded the victim's car keys and cell phone. It is further alleged that the victim handed over her cell phone to Butler and then ran toward the store. It is alleged that Butler then entered the victim's vehicle and Baugh pulled on the door handle of the passenger side of the vehicle. It is further alleged that Butler was unable to start the car and exited the vehicle. It is alleged that after Butler exited the vehicle, the two men fled the scene. Butler was taken into custody on October 22, 2021, when authorities conducted a search warrant at his home. Baugh was taken into custody on November 2 from his home in Chicago.

"The apprehension of these two defendants sends the message that this type of random violent crime, that terrorizes our citizens and destroys communities, will not be tolerated in DuPage County and will be aggressively prosecuted," Berlin said. "We are all thankful that the victim in this case was not physically harmed. I thank the Downers Grove and Chicago Police Departments and DuPage MERIT for their outstanding work on this case. I also thank Assistant State's Attorneys Kristin Sullivan, Alyssa Rabulinski and Jessica Sisler for their efforts in securing charges against these two men."

"I would like to thank the Downers Grove Police Department investigators for their hard work and determination to follow every available lead in this case" Gillette said. "Their persistence and exceptional performance has made this outcome possible. I would also like to thank State's Attorney Bob Berlin and his office for their continued support and guidance."

Baugh's next court appearance is scheduled for December 1, 2021, for arraignment. Butler's next court appearance is scheduled for November 22, 2021, for arraignment. Both men will appear in front of Judge Ann Celine O'Hallaren Walsh.      

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendants' guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government's burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.