Did you all read this story in the Chicago Tribune last week about Producer/Image Maker Harvey Star Washington getting held up at the Chicago Hilton last week?
Read the full story below:
Robbers storm Hilton Chicago, steal $20,000 from fashion-show practice
Two robbers, one of them with a gun, allegedly got away with as much as $20,000 Sunday night from a fashion show audition at the downtown Hilton Chicago Hotel, 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago police said. No one was injured in the 10:45 p.m. holdup.
(Tribune photo by Tom Van Dyke / February 25, 2008)
By Mary Owen Tribune reporter
5:19 PM CST, February 25, 2008
Every Sunday for the last month, about 40 full-figured amateur models filled a Hilton Chicago meeting room to rehearse their struts and poses for a March fashion show at Navy Pier.After the models left on Sunday night, two men stormed the meeting room, duct-taped eight fashion show organizers and stole $20,000, police said.Harvey Star Washington, the annual fashion show's organizer, said he believes the robbery was an inside job by people who knew that he would be in town on Sunday to collect dues and ticket proceeds from the models.
"They said, 'Where's the money, Harvey?' " said Washington of Washington, D.C. "They said my name like they knew me. . . . It had to be someone who knew we had the money."The theft occurred at about 10:45 p.m., after the models had left. Organizers were talking in the meeting room when the men, one carrying a gun, entered the third-floor Marquette Room from a back door, police said. They duct-taped the organizers, including Washington, and demanded money, police said.After 15 minutes, the thieves left with Washington's Louis Vuitton satchel, with the money inside, and another woman's wallet. The victims freed themselves within 10 minutes and called 911.Chicago police said are still investigating and reviewing the hotel's surveillance video. No one was in custody Monday night. Police said the robbers ran out of the hotel, headed south on Michigan Avenue, past 8th Street.A hotel spokesman said the robbers did not steal from anyone else in the hotel, 720 S. Michigan Ave.
"We are cooperating fully with the Chicago Police Department," said Robert Allegrini, the hotel's regional communications director.Washington, who checked into the hotel on Saturday, said the $20,000 was slated to pay for the bulk of the March 16 Navy Pier fashion show, which is called "Fashionology: A Celebration of Fashion." The show will not be canceled, he said. Washington said this will Chicago's 12th show.The models, most of whom have never walked a runway, pay $200 to participate in the show featuring Washington's clothing line. The fee pays for the model's hairstyling, makeup and a photo shoot. Participants must also sell at least ten $50 tickets to the fashion show.Washington, who owns Washington-based Experts the Image modeling agency, said that four women were cut from the show Sunday night after they did not meet their ticket sales requirement. Two of the women left the meeting room at about 8 p.m. Washington said he passed on their contact information to police. In the weeks leading up to the show, the models, most of whom are women, attend weekly rehearsals. Tiffany Neely of Chicago, who works for Washington, said some of the women are afraid to return to rehearsals next week. She said future practices will have more security to protect the models and employees."It was really scary and very stressful," Neely said. "We can't let something like this stop a movement that is so great for the full-figure woman."
Harvey and I go back as far as 1995 when I came down to audition for the Congressional Black Caucus show that he was producing. We managed to stay in touch throughout the years and our paths crossed again when we were both working on Mo'Nique's F.A.T. Chance. I got the news on this story via text message while I was in Buffalo working. I was just relieved to hear that he wasn't injured.
I have been held up at gun point and it simply is not a pleasant experience to go through.
I gotta call him and make sure he's alright.
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow."
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