DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Lombard Chief of Police Roy Newton announced that bond has been set for a Lombard man accused of threatening a woman and hijacking her car from her apartment complex parking lot. Bryan Church, 33, of Lombard appeared at a bond hearing yesterday afternoon where Judge Susan Alvarado set bond at $1 million with 10% to apply. Church has been charged with one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, a Class X Felony and one count of Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer, a Class 2 Felony.
On July 5, 2022, at approximately 11:10 a.m., the female victim, went to the parking garage of her apartment complex on Highland Avenue and entered her car, a 2020 Honda Accord. It is alleged while the victim was in the driver’s seat of her car, a male, later identified as Church, approached the vehicle, opened the front passenger door of the car and sat down in the car. It is alleged that Church told the victim he needed a ride and when the victim refused and told Church to exit her car, he told the victim to get out of the car or he was going to slit her throat. It is further alleged that the victim exited her car at which time Church got into the driver’s seat of the Honda and drove away. Approximately five minutes later, officers with the Lombard Police Department responded to a call of a disturbance in the 700 block of E. Butterfield Road. Upon their arrival, officers found Church in an office building with a backpack. It is alleged that as officers attempted to talk to Church he pushed and kicked an officer. Church was placed under arrest at this time. It is alleged that officers found two knives and a BB gun inside Church’s backpack.
“The quick apprehension of Mr. Church and significant bond set by Judge Alvarado sends the message that in DuPage County, we will not tolerate violent criminal activity, as alleged in this case,” Berlin said. “Thankfully, no one was physically injured as a result of Mr. Church’s alleged actions. I thank the Lombard Police Department for their swift response in bringing this defendant into custody. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Grace Barsanti and Kelly McKay for their efforts in securing charges against Mr. Church.”
“Our response to the scene by the first responding units was key in determining the location of the offense, vehicle and suspect,” Newton said. “We appreciate the assistance of State’s Attorney Berlin and his office for making DuPage County safe.”
Church’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 8, 2022, for arraignment 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 defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.