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NEW LENOX, IL — May 10, 2026
A Chicago man is facing a Class X felony charge after New Lenox police linked him to an armed robbery at a Verizon store, authorities said.
Dreyone Dyer, 21, was arrested Monday after detectives obtained a warrant in connection with the Saturday morning heist. The arrest followed a multi-agency investigation that used automated license plate readers, a regional police radio network, and SWAT support to track down five suspects in Chicago.
Police said the case is far from closed, and additional charges could be filed as forensic evidence continues to be reviewed.
The incident began shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, when an employee arrived to open the Verizon store in New Lenox. According to police, a vehicle pulled up and three armed suspects confronted the employee, demanding cellular phones.
Officers responding to the scene found the suspects already gone. Investigators then turned to Flock cameras — a network of automated license plate readers used across the south suburbs — to trace the vehicle as it fled east through town.
That information was relayed through ISPERN, the Illinois State Police Emergency Radio Network, allowing Harvey police to locate the abandoned vehicle. Officers in Harvey then spotted a second vehicle that the suspects entered before continuing their escape.
The trail eventually led to a location in Chicago, where New Lenox detectives, with assistance from the Chicago Police Department’s SWAT team, took multiple suspects into custody.
During the investigation, detectives said they recovered five firearms — including one modified to operate as a fully automatic weapon — along with 74 stolen cellular phones and two stolen vehicles.
The evidence was enough for the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office to approve an armed robbery charge against Dyer, a Class X felony in Illinois. He was processed at the New Lenox Police Department and transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.
Police also encountered Niquan Candler, 27, during the investigation and determined he had an active warrant out of Livingston County. Candler was processed and transferred to the Will County jail pending transfer to Livingston County authorities.
New Lenox police used the arrest to highlight what they described as growing challenges under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, which changed pretrial detention and release procedures.
The law requires law enforcement and prosecutors to follow strict timelines while evidence is still being gathered and before charges are finalized. Police said that can slow complex investigations where digital evidence, video, and witness statements take time to develop.
“These requirements can create additional challenges in complex investigations where critical evidence takes time to develop,” police said in a release.
The department also voiced broader concerns about repeat offenders. The five suspects taken into custody are all in their 20s, police said, with a combined history of 17 arrests and 9 convictions. Those prior cases involved weapons, robbery, drugs, and other offenses.
New Lenox Police Chief Micah Nuesse said the public should expect the investigation to continue beyond the initial charging decision.
“To our community, please know that we are not done,” Nuesse said. “This investigation remains active, and we will continue working with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office as evidence develops. Our commitment to holding those responsible accountable does not end with an initial charging decision.”
The remaining suspects have not yet been charged in connection with the armed robbery. Police said that does not mean they won’t be.
“The absence of charges at this stage does not mean this investigation is over,” the department said in its release.
Detectives are continuing to review forensic evidence, cell phone data, and surveillance footage. Police said they are also following additional leads related to the stolen vehicles and the modified firearm.
The department said it expects to work closely with prosecutors to determine whether more charges are warranted.
“We are fortunate to be working with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office,” police said. “As additional evidence develops, detectives will continue working closely with prosecutors to review the facts and pursue any further charges supported by the evidence and applicable law.”
The case has renewed local attention on how Illinois courts handle repeat offenders. Under the SAFE-T Act, some felony defendants can be released pending trial unless prosecutors prove they pose a specific threat to the community.
New Lenox police said the suspects’ criminal histories raise serious concerns about accountability within the justice system.
“We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office,” the department said. “Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to pursuing the facts reflect the hard work and service our community expects and deserves from its law enforcement officers.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Police said additional arrests and charges are possible as the evidence is processed.
