Jan. 03--Retired Secret Service agent Jose Franco says he felt a little "invincible'' when he pulled the badge he still carries and ordered two robbery suspects to "freeze" after they allegedly stole a brand-new iPhone 6 from a 71-year-old man riding the Blue Line to O'Hare.
"Police, I have a gun! I want you to freeze!'' Franco said he yelled.
Franco didn't actually have a gun, but he had his hands in his pockets, and the two suspects apparently weren't taking any chances.
"As soon as I said freeze, they did,'' said Franco, 59.
Franco got the phone back, and the suspects were arrested near the Harlem station about 11 a.m. Wednesday.
"My adrenaline was high. I probably should have called 911," said Franco, who retired three years ago after working for the Secret Service for three decades. "I was just trying to make sure they didn't escape with this little old man's phone.
"I felt like I was an agent again," Franco said.
The victim, Michael, who asked to be identified only by his first name, purchased the phone four days before the theft. During a telephone interview Friday, he said he and his wife were on the train, and he was using the phone to show her information about their flight.
When the train stopped at Harlem, the suspects suddenly emerged from another car.
"They were running. I had it in my left hand, and they came and slapped it forward ... they just tore out the door," Michael said.
"I was kind of shocked and maybe (had) a little moment of fear, healthy fear."
Then he felt "anger, and it kind of turned into determination," he added. He asked his wife if she could handle the carry-on bags and bolted out the door after the suspects.
He spotted them on a corner, talking, and looking over their shoulders.
"I started running after them, and they started running. They were a lot younger than me. I guess I'm in good shape, but I'm fighting a cold,'' Michael said.
Michael followed the robbers north of the station on Harlem Avenue.
That's where Michael flagged down Franco and a friend who were on their way for an outing in nearby Niles.
"I see this old man up ahead flagging down cars," said Franco, who was driving. "I'm looking at my friend and saying maybe he needs a ride. He was hysterical."
Franco stopped, rolled down his window and asked if he could help.
"Help me, please help me," Michael pleaded, according to Franco and police. "'These two guys just stole my iPhone, and I just bought it a week ago. I'm going to miss my plane.' "
Michael explained that his wife had gone ahead to the airport to check in.
"Get inside the truck," Franco told Michael, and they sped off.
As they made a right turn and slowed down, Franco said he spotted the suspects. He told his friend and the victim to follow them on foot while he went around the back through an alley.
Franco said while they were in pursuit, another man joined them, saying he was a retired Chicago police sergeant. The retired sergeant said he had just seen two men running through his yard.
"I could see them jumping fences, house to house,'' Franco said.
They were about 30 or 40 feet away when Franco yelled and pulled his badge.
"I still had my badge in my pocket,'' Franco said. "They saw me and they froze and put their hands up and got on their knees."
Franco then yelled for them to give up the phone. The man with the phone tossed it to Franco before fleeing. Franco said he tackled the second suspect before calling 911 and waited until police arrived. He learned later that the second suspect was arrested in the 5600 block of North Neva Avenue.
Franco said he handed the iPhone back to Michael and even gave him a lift to the airport, where he met his wife who "was in tears." The couple made their flight.
Michael said police told him the suspects were not "the dangerous type'' but said they were "surprised'' Michael ran after them.
"They're a couple of scared guys who I think their worst nightmare seemed to be unfolding in front of them,'' Michael said.
Michael was thankful for Franco and the neighbors who helped out.
"A little bit of bonding (happened),'' Michael said. "It caused a feeling of brotherhood ... a special feeling of a community standing up against something.''
The two suspects -- Mark Hicks 19, of the 6900 block of South Parnell Avenue, and Jeffrey L. Mosley, 25, of the 7800 block of South Shore Drive -- were charged with robbery. Mosley also was wanted on a domestic battery warrant, according to the Cook County sheriff's office.
On Thursday, Hicks was ordered held in lieu of $90,000 bail, and Mosley was ordered held in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to court records.
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