Employee Accused Of Threatening To Shoot Co-Workers Released on I-Bond

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — An employee accused of threatening his coworkers with a semi-automatic rifleat a Chicago Ridge towing company was released on an I-bond following a hearing at the Bridgeview Courthouse, according to court records.

Anan K. Abudayeh, 32, of Chicago, appeared Tuesday morning before Cook County Judge Linzey Jones on felony charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated assault and unlawful restraint.

Just before 11 a.m. Monday, Chicago Ridge police responded to Redline Towing, 10103 S. Kitty Ave., for an employee, later identified as Abudayeh, who was allegedly threatening coworkers with a gun.

Chicago Ridge police said Abudayeh had gone to the towing company office, believing that he was owed $500. When fellow employees told him his supervisor was not on duty and needed to approve his pay, police said Abudayeh, who was armed with a loaded semi-automatic rifle, became irate and racked the gun. He threatened to start shooting people if he didn’t get what he felt was owned to him, police said.

Other employees in the garage bay saw what was happening, and were able to escape outside and called 911. When officers arrived, they found Abudayeh in the office with two employees inside with him.

After 10 to 15 minutes on the scene, police said Abudayeh agreed to leave the business peacefully. The two employees inside the office were able to calm Abudayeh down and persuaded him to comply with the officer’s requests, police said.

Officers were able to confirm that Abudayeh carried the rifle inside the business in a backpack. After recovering the weapon, officers said the rifle was loaded, charged, and had a fully loaded magazine. Abudayeh also had another fully loaded magazine on him, and a loaded handgun with multiple loaded magazines on his person.

"Thanks to two very calm and smart employees at Redline Towing and the quick response of our officers, we were able to diffuse a very volatile situation and arrest the suspect without anyone getting hurt," said Chief Jim Jarolimek, of the Chicago Ridge Police Department.

Following many hours of review and investigation, the Cook County State’s Attorney approved the felony charges Monday evening.

Chicago Ridge police said Abudayeh had a FOID and CCL also filed a "clear and present danger" report with Illinois State Police. According to state law, school administrators and law enforcement are required to report individuals determined to pose a "Clear and Present Danger. The reporting process is intended to prevent individuals determined to pose a Clear and Present Danger from having access to firearms or firearm ammunition by revoking the individual’s FOID Card, according to ISP.

Abudayeh appeared in court Tuesday morning, where he was released on a $50,000 I-bond. He is due back Sept. 7 for his next hearing in Bridgeview.