Crime & Safety

Man Steals AirSoft Gun from Store, Tries to Choke Himself, Cops Say

Eighteen-year-old Chicago man gave store security a hard time, would not put on paper suit at jail, police said.

A Chicago man was charged with retail theft, battery and disorderly conduct after he shoplifted an airsoft gun and cartridges from a local store, reports said.

Oak Lawn police responded to a retail theft at Kmart, 4101 W. 95th St., around 7:47 p.m. March 3. While enroute, dispatch notified the officer that the suspect was giving loss prevention agents a hard time, police said.

When officers arrived, they learned that the alleged retail thief had just ran out of the emergency exit door at the back of the store. The suspect was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt and dark pants.

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READ, ‘School Lurker’ Charged With Disorderly Conduct

Another officer observed a man fitting the suspect’s description at 95th Street and Tripp Avenue. Police drove the loss prevention agent to the scene where he positively identified the suspect, Jerry L. Reid, 18, of Chicago. Reid was taken into custody.

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According to the report, loss prevention agents observed Reid and another person. A loss prevention agent watched Reid on surveillance camera, while the second agent staked out the aisle.

Police said that Reid was observed selecting a black airsoft pistol and a package of CO2 cartridges off the shelf. He then walked to another aisle and allegedly put the pistol in his waistband.

Reid walked to the front of the store past the cash registers without paying, reports said. The loss prevention agent stopped him outside the store.

The loss prevention agent told police that Reid immediately offered to pay for the cartridges to avoid being arrested. Reid was asked to follow him to the office.

Police said that Reid refused to sit down in the security office so the loss prevention agent could take down his information. Reid became irate and tried to leave, reports said.

Reid allegedly told the loss prevention agent, “I got my people outside.” The loss prevention officer believed that Reid was threatening to have his friends come into the store to escalate the matter if he couldn’t leave.

Police said that Reid ran down the hallway into the employee restroom and threw the pistol into a garbage can. Reid began to act combative and reportedly told the loss prevention agent: “If you don’t let me out of here I’m going to tear the place up.”

Reid allegedly went into the employee break room and attempted to rip off a wall-mounted TV. The loss prevention agent was able to stop Reid from damaging the TV, reports said.

He then pushed the loss prevention agent and raised his fists, then ran out of the emergency exit, police said.

While in jail, police said that Reid tried to choke himself with his shirt, and refused to change into a paper suit, reports said. He was brought to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was to see a crisis counselor.

Reid has a court hearing on April 18.



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