Cops Nab Fleeing Credit Card Thief As Shoppers Cheer: Police

ORLAND PARK, IL -- Holiday shoppers cheered when police tackled a fleeing suspect after he had tried making a fraudulent credit card purchase at an Orland Square store, police said. Jamal Walker, 25, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on felony charges of possession of an altered credit card. The Chicago man is currently on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections for armed robbery with a handgun.

According to the charges, Walker was at the Children’s Place on Dec. 21 where he tried to purchase a $100 gift card using a credit card. The card was declined several times attracting the attention of an Orland Park police officer. When the officer tried to stop Walker, he allegedly took off running. While fleeing police, the prosecutor said Walker tried to destroy three altered credit cards he was carrying in his hand. Another officer tackled the fleeing suspect to the ground. Walker continued to resist arrest and a large crowd gathered to watch, police said.

Shoppers applauded and cheered police when Walker was finally handcuffed and escorted from the scene, according to the Orland Park police Facebook page. Walker allegedly had six altered credit cards in his possession. He was convicted of a 2014 armed robbery and had been serving a four-year prison sentence set to expire in February. The prosecutor did not know if a parole warrant had been issued.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Walker is currently working for a temp agency. He is also a graduate of Hyde Park Academy. Felice set bail at $100,000. Walker’s next court hearing is Jan. 10 in Bridgeview.

“He knows the consequences,” the judge said.

The Orland Park Police Department’s retail detail is working in all of the village’s retail areas. Undercover officers are working in collaboration with store loss prevention agents throughout the holiday season.