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Hair salon bandit pleads not guilty in Skokie
Jason Logsdon
Updated: April 15, 2013 6:24AM
SKOKIE — Jason Logsdon, who took on the media-created name of the “Bad Hair Bandit” after allegedly robbing 15 hair salons and similar businesses throughout the Chicago area, pled not guilty March 8 to five counts of armed robbery.
Two of the armed robberies took place in Skokie.
Logsdon, 41, of Evanston, pled only on cases that occurred in Skokie, Morton Grove and Niles, which are all under the jurisdiction of Cook County District 2 Circuit Court in Skokie where he was arraigned. Other charges against him are being handled in other jurisdictions, including Chicago and DuPage County.
Each charge of armed robbery against Logsdon is considered a Class X felony, according to the court.
In addition to pleading not guilty, Logsdon was also approved for drug treatment while he remains incarcerated. Judge Garritt Howard granted the request made by the defendant’s lawyer, Leslie Rogoff.
Logsdon had told the court he robbed the businesses to feed a crack cocaine habit and concentrated on hair salons knowing there wouldn’t be as many men there.
Logsdon was charged in connection with 15 armed robberies: 11 hair salons in Cook County, as well as three hair salons and a tobacco store in DuPage County. The robberies occurred between Dec. 26 and Feb. 4.
Authorities said he used a BB gun in most of the robberies and stole between $100 and $800 in each incident.
A witness to the last robbery caught the license plate number of the car in which the robber drove away. When Skokie police found the plate in their system, they learned they had pulled the car over twice in the past for minor violations, which helped lead to Logsdon’s arrest. Once they received word that Logsdon had been identified by witnesses, police took him into custody.
Authorities said the car was not Logsdon’s and the owner did not know for what it was being used.
Appearing in court in pale yellow prison garb, Logsdon was asked whether he understood the importance of showing up for each hearing, which is not likely to be a problem since he remains in jail.
“Yes, your honor,” he said, in the only words he spoke.
Logsdon’s next court date in Skokie is April 11.
