Alsip Man Disarmed of Gun At Chicago Ridge Mall After Struggle: Police

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL—Police disarmed an Alsip man Friday afternoon who they say was packing a gun in his waistband at Chicago Ridge Mall.

Around 2:25 p.m. Friday, a Chicago Ridge police officer observed a man, later identified as 38-year-old Mark A. Jackson, with a bulge in his waistband walking into the mall. Two officers approach Jackson inside a store and tell him that carrying a concealed firearm in the mall was prohibited, police said.

When the officer attempted to retrieve the gun from Jackson, he allegedly pulled the gun from his waistband. A struggle ensued, but police said the officers were able to safely retrieve the gun without further incident.

Police said Jackson, of the 5100 block of West 113th Street, Alsip, was placed in custody and gave a fake name to the officers. Jackson was also said to be in possession of a fraudulent Illinois driver’s license that contained his photo but another person’s identifying information.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved felony charges for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and two counts of aggravated assault to a police officer. Jackson was also charged with five misdemeanor counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer, and one count of criminal damage to property.

Jackson was also found to have an active arrest warrant for domestic battery and two active arrest warrants for forgery.