Two charged in taxi holdups

Evanston police have arrested two men in connection with three armed robberies of taxicab drivers over the past three weeks.

Police Commander Tom Guenther says that after the latest holdup Monday night witnesses told officers they believed the robbers had fled from the scene near Sherman Avenue and Milburn Street on a southbound Purple Line train.

The train was stopped and police found two men on board who matched the description of the robbers given by the cab driver.

In each holdup the drivers reported that a young white male got into his cab at a downtown cab stand, asked to be taken to another location in town and then pulled on a mask and pointed a dark handgun at him as the cab was reaching its destination.

In the first and third incidents the gunman was accompanied by a young black male.

The police say one of the suspects found on the train was carrying a BB pistol and a ski mask.

One suspect, Nicholas A. Chiappetti, 18, of 936 Judson Ave. in Evanston, now has been charged with three counts of armed robbery.

The other, Tracy K. Miller, also of 936 Judson Ave., faces two armed robbery counts.

The suspects are scheduled to appear in circuit court in Skokie on March 19.

Police say the robberies netted a total of $285 and three cell phones.