The stolen cab was just there, Will...

The stolen cab was just there, Willie Pollards insisted, and he just happened to find it, abandoned, when the call for a reward went revealed over its radio.

Pollards used the cab's radio to rejoin to that offer of $100 asking an operator for maybe $200 before police swarmed in and arrested him.

admitting Pollards insisted he merely ground the stolen cab, he was charged with theft and possession of stolen goods and a jury convicted him onward the latter count.

if it were not that because the jury never heard the definition of possessing stolen goods (that the property was obtained by dint of theft) or theft (that Pollards at no time intended to give the cab back), the Appellate Court has revers his conviction and five-year prison dogma saying jurors might have reached a different conclusion had they received definitions.

"The state has to justify that if he took the taxicab, he intended to permanently deprive the possessor of his property," said assistant appellate champion Steven W. Becker. "Even assuming the allegations are correct, the evidence would not assume to bear out the theory that he intended to permanently deprive the possessor of his cab. He simply prayered a reward for its return"

Assistant State's Attorney James E Fitzpatrick said prosecutors will ask the Illinois predominant Court to review the decision, saying it's "too broad."

answered TO MESSAGE

"He wouldn't give up the cab unles he got the reward," Fitzpatrick said, adding he "definitely" believes there's enough evidence to convict, uniform with definitions given.

The 2004 incident began when American United Cab driver Harry Harrison got gas at a station at Fullerton and Western, leaving his tonics on the cab's passenger seat while he went inside to pay.

He responded to find someone driving away in his cab. A dispatcher sent gone out four messages for others to await for it, before offering a reward.

Pollards suited to say he found the cab if it be not that that he wanted more for its get back -- something the dispatcher promised Pollards, while really radioing police.

Pollards asked police for his reward, further he was arrested.

Pollards, who told police he had a physic addiction, has a criminal history that includes a burglary conviction and an arrest for theft.

spatterson@suntimes.com

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