Lake Effect News

By LORRAINE SWANSON

Editor

An Uptown couple was arrested after they threatened their neighbor with butcher knives and robbed him of $70 at their apartment building on the 1000 block of West Lawrence Avenue, according to 30th District police reports.

Clydell Johnson, 28, was charged with home invasion, resisting arrest and assault. Martavia Taylor, 22, was charged with home invasion and armed robbery. The two are alleged to have threatened and robbed their neighbor because of his interference with Johnson’s narcotics sales. Both have a June 5 court date.

The 50-year-old victim told police that Johnson pushed his door in around noon May 30. Brandishing a 9-inch butcher knife, Johnson yelled, “Mother——, give me your f—— money. I want your money,” the victim said.

Another neighbor who had come to talk to the victim about money that she owed to him was standing outside the victim’s door when the home invasion began to unfold. Johnson picked up a second knife butcher knife and began sharpening both knives, saying to the victim, “You hurt my business,” the police report said.

The victim, who is a live-in caretaker at the building, told police that he was threatened verbally by Johnson on April 29 pertaining to narcotics sales at Johnson’s apartment.

The victim said he was terrified and leaning against the wall inside his unit when Johnson told him to empty his pockets. After handing over approximately $70 in cash to Johnson, the neighbor called 911. Johnson allegedly told the victim that he would be back for more money, and that he called tell the building manager all he wanted because his guys on the street would take of him.

Johnson used the victim’s phone to call his girlfriend, Taylor, telling her to come to the victim’s apartment, according to the police report. Taylor soon arrived and took the butcher knives from Johnson, and stood in the doorway sharpening them, the victim said.

Johnson asked for the knives back and wiped them on his jeans. He then went into the victim’s bathroom to wash his hands. The two left the victim’s apartment and went back to Johnson’s unit, the police report said.

Police arrived and knocked on Johnson’s door. Johnson answered the door and then ran back inside his apartment hiding his hands. When police tried to take him into custody, Johnson allegedly dropped to the floor and tried to grab a plastic bag containing what appeared to be crack-cocaine off of a dresser.

Johnson kicked the arresting officers and clenched his arms while lying on his stomach, the police report said. Police were finally able to handcuff Johnson and bring him to the 20th District police station.

During Johnson’s arrest, the police report said, Taylor waited for police to bring the victim to Johnson’s apartment. As the victim identified Taylor as the second person who robbed and threatened him, she allegedly began bumping her chest into the arresting officer.

According to the police report, Taylor spit into the police officer’s face, and moved her face to “avoid further spit.”

Police recovered four rocks, a marijuana pipe and the butcher knives from Johnson’s apartment. The victim was able to identify one of the knives. Police said they also found Taylor in possession of Links card belonging to another person.