A 26-year-old Aurora man will remain behind bars after allegedly beating an elderly man during a chaotic carjacking attempt.
Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to detain Grant Chandler pre-trial during a court appearance Friday morning.
Chandler faces multiple felony charges, including Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking and Aggravated Battery.
The incident began around 7:30 a.m. on January 21 at the Quality Inn on Gabrielle Lane.
Authorities say a 69-year-old man was walking to his truck when Chandler approached him asking for a ride.
After the victim refused, Chandler allegedly tried to break into a nearby Dodge Durango using a parking sign.
When confronted by witnesses, Chandler reportedly jumped into the victim’s running truck.
The victim tried to pull Chandler out of the vehicle, but Chandler allegedly punched the elderly man in the head multiple times.
Prosecutors say Chandler then attempted to drive the truck away while the door was still open and the victim was still struggling.
The chaos didn’t stop there, as Chandler allegedly tried to carjack a passing driver and a garbage truck worker while fleeing on foot.
Police eventually located Chandler in a nearby apartment complex and took him into custody after a brief struggle.
At the time of the attack, Chandler was already on probation for a 2023 drug conviction.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin called the morning events a “terrifying ordeal” for the community.
Berlin noted that Chandler now faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the new charges.
Chief Matt Thomas praised his officers for their quick response in stopping the dangerous spree.
Chandler is scheduled to return to court on February 17, 2026.
