WICKER PARK — An alleged burglar was chased and pinned to the ground by a chef, while the manager of a tattoo parlor — who moonlights as a security guard and happened to have a set of handcuffs in his pocket — detained him until police arrived.
The dramatic arrest of Armad Jones occurred around 4 p.m. Sunday in front of Ragstock clothing, 1459 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Jones, 21, of the first block of North Mason Avenue, was charged with one felony count of burglary, according to Officer Kevin Quaid, a Chicago Police Department spokesman.
Jones is in Cook County Jail after failing to post 10 percent of a $25,000 bail, records show.
His next court date is Monday.
Before Sunday's arrest, Jones had been convicted of eight crimes, mostly for theft, dating to March 2013, according to court records.
Don Penza, 26, a chef at Kanela Breakfast Club, said he was pulling into a parking lot behind the restaurant Sunday afternoon when he saw Jones "just loitering in the alley."
"I kept an eye on him. Then he was walking close to cars. He opened the door to one of the cook's cars and got inside," Penza said.
Penza said he walked up to Jones, who took off running.
Penza chased Jones through the alley and across Milwaukee Avenue, where he tackled him and pinned him face down onto the ground.
Penza said that once Jones was caught, "he didn't resist at all."
"I had my knee between his shoulders. I was on the phone with the 911 dispatch," Penza said.
Instead of resisting, Jones managed to reach in his pocket and pull out two small blue bags with white powder and put them in his mouth, Penza said.
"Is this worth overdosing on? He swallowed the drugs to destroy them. I told him not to do it. I'm thinking he didn't want to get a possession charge, too," Penza said.
Penza said Jones appeared to be unarmed, and he suspects he had been breaking into other cars.
Brian Dickie, 35, a manager at Metamorph Tattoo at 1456 N. Milwaukee Ave., across the street from where Penza and Jones were, rushed over to help.
Dickie, who works as a bouncer at Debonair Social Club, Metro and other spots, said he had handcuffs in his pocket from the night before.
"I assessed the hell out of the situation before jumping in. I asked [Penza] if it was OK to use my handcuffs, and he said yes, so I put them on [Jones], and then police showed up quickly, in an unmarked car," Dickie said.
By 4 p.m., Dickie said he was back at his job in Metamorph.
When asked why he took action, Penza said, "It was the difference between right and wrong," and either one of his grandfathers and his dad would have gone after Jones and done the same thing.
"I don't appreciate people taking stuff. It's hard in this day and age to stand up for what's right. You can't let the fear take over what's right and what's wrong. No one wants to get hurt but they know we are fearful, they take advantage and prey on that," Penza said.
Jones prior record:
On April 5, Jones was convicted of two misdemeanors for retail theft and criminal trespassing and sentenced to two days in Cook County Jail.
In February 2015, Jones was found guilty of criminal trespassing, also a misdemeanor, and sentenced to two days in county jail.
In October 2014, he was sentenced to boot camp and had to pay $704 in fines for a theft offense. Jones failed to complete boot camp, so in December 2014, he was sentenced to a year in prison followed by a year of court supervision.
In October 2014, Jones was sentenced to four days in county jail for retail theft.
In July 2014, he was found guilty of retail theft and resisting arrest, and sentenced to 12 days in county jail.
In April 2014, Jones was found guilty of retail theft and sentenced to three days in county jail.
In October 2013, he was found guilty of trespassing to land and sentenced to one year of court supervision and $240 in fines.
In March 2013, he was found guilty of theft, sentenced to six months' court supervision and $250 in fines.
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