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Man Made It To Boarding Ramp After Rushing O'Hare Security: Prosecutors

By  Erica Demarest and Kelly Bauer | January 9, 2017 8:35am | Updated on January 9, 2017 5:42pm

 Malik Neal was charged after forcing his way into a secured area at O'Hare Airport, police said.
Malik Neal was charged after forcing his way into a secured area at O'Hare Airport, police said.
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Courtesy Chicago Police Department

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The suburban man who rushed past O'Hare Airport security Sunday made it all the way to the boarding ramp for a Florida-bound flight, prosecutors said Monday.

Malik Neal, 21, was denied bail during a brief hearing Monday afternoon.

"I'm taking into consideration what happened in Florida," Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil said, referencing the Ft. Lauderdale shooting that left five people dead. "You put yourself and every other person out there in danger."

According to prosecutors, Neal took a Lyft to the Northwest Side airport shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday.

Once inside, Neal headed straight for the metal detector at a security checkpoint — completely bypassing waiting passengers and a row of TSA agents, Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said in court Monday.

Neal did not have a boarding pass.

When several TSA agents tried to stop Neal, prosecutors said, he removed his jacket and backpack and positioned himself in "a threatening stance."

That's when Neal rushed through a metal detector and past the security checkpoint — ambushing several TSA agents as he went, Scaduto said. Neal entered a secure wing of the airport; the altercation was caught on surveillance footage.

As multiple TSA agents followed Neal, prosecutors said, two Chicago Police officers joined the chase.

Neal headed toward Gate L5, where passengers were boarding a plane bound for Florida, Scaduto said. Neal is accused of walking past airport employees to enter the plane's boarding ramp.

It was there the two Chicago Police officers cornered an "agitated" Neal, who began punching and hitting them, Scaduto said. Neal was arrested and taken for a psychiatric evaluation.

According to prosecutors, the suburban Joliet man was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Neal recently changed medications, Scaduto said, and has had depressive and suicidal episodes in the past.

When police arrested Neal on Sunday, he was carrying Prozac, authorities said.

Neal has three pending criminal cases in Will County: two for disorderly conduct and one for violating a protection of order. At the time of Sunday's altercation, Neal was free on bond.

He also has an active restraining order for stalking someone, prosecutors said. The order was issued in April and is valid until January of next year. It lists Neal as "armed, dangerous and suicidal," Scaduto said.

Neal now faces charges of aggravated battery to a police officer, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, criminal trespass to state land and battery making physical contact.

According to his public defender, Neal lives in Joliet with his parents. He previously worked at Taco Bell, but was laid off over the summer.

Police said Neal hit several officers and TSA agents. One Chicago Police officer was taken to a hospital, while another was treated at the scene for a cut to his ear.

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