Man arrested for impersonating officer while carrying loaded weapon at Chicago ICE protest, police sources say
A man who was arrested for impersonating an officer during the Chicago ICE protests in the Loop Thursday afternoon had a loaded weapon when he was taken into custody, according to police sources.
Chicago police said officers were on patrol in the 200 block of South Michigan Avenue around 5 p.m. when they received a radio call about a suspicious man wearing "police identifiers."
Police sources said the 21-year-old man was wearing a black polo shirt with the word "police" on the back and a black bag with a police patch on it, too. But he wasn't an officer and could not provide valid police credentials.
Police sources also said he was openly carrying a loaded semi-automatic pistol. The man has a FOID card, but told police he did not have a concealed carry license. He also had badges and documents saying he was part of a "special police team" at the time of his arrest.
Charges are pending.
"This is not something we see widespread, a person impersonating Chicago Police Department," said Garien Gatewood, deputy mayor for public safety. "So that person was arrested and again, this is one of the main reasons we've always pushed, if you see something say something campaign. It's even more important now as tensions are heightened throughout the city and throughout the country."
Huge crowds expected for Chicago "No Kings" protest
Chicago police and city officials are preparing for thousands of people to once again converge on Daley Plaza Saturday at 12 p.m. for the No Kings protest.
It is an anchor event for more than 1,800 protests nationwide in hundreds of other cities. Across the nation, attendance is expected to be in the millions.
"We want people to exercise their First Amendment rights. We also want people to be safe," Gatewood said. "All of our resources will be from the Chicago Police Department, we actually had a meeting this morning with all of our community violence interrupters so they understand how we'll be deploying them and working with them tomorrow as well."
The protests are intended to counter the president's planned military parade in Washington, which is also Trump's 79th birthday.
Police said that while they will have a very busy weekend – there are also major street festivals and events at least half a dozen neighborhoods – they are prepared and have enough resources to keep the city safe.
"We do have adequate resources," Gatewood said. "The superintendent has put together a great plan working with every city agency across the board, and we've been in contact with the governor's office to make sure we have the resources that are necessary to make sure the partnership goes well throughout the weekend."
Garien said he has not heard whether ICE tactical teams that have been told to stand by to be deployed to Chicago will show up at Saturday's protests, but stated, "We are not going to be LA."
City agencies are also putting a series of tips on their social media platforms with protesting guidelines and overall safeety information.
