Man charged with bringing knives to DuPage court
beacon news staff
WHEATON — A 50-year-old Villa Park man was arrested Wednesday after he tried to enter the DuPage County Courthouse with "knife-like" objects, authorities said. Thomas Parker, of the 300 block of Beach Street, was charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon, a felony, after deputies spotted the items during a routine screening of people entering the courthouse, according to the DuPage County sheriff's office.
A deputy initially spotted a suspicious shadow among the personal items Parker sent through an X-ray machine at about 9 a.m., police said. After searching the man's items, a deputy found four of the objects, made out of Plexiglas.
After interviewing Parker, investigators said they had not determined why he had the knives, police said. Parker was ordered held in the DuPage County Jail on $100,000 bond.
DuPage Sheriff John Zaruba said the county has a "zero tolerance policy when the security of the courthouse may be compromised."
"My deputies try and move people through those screening lines as quickly as possible," Zaruba said in a statement. "But our utmost concern is the safety of the people who visit and work in the courthouse every day."
11/19/05
First thing, I have not been in a court room/house for a long time. I always thought the metal detectors were for if you had something that was not allowed they would take it at the door then return it to you when you leave.
How things have changed.
I will admit this does sound a little suspicious. Plexyglass knife like objects? Are they or aren't they knives?
A lot of people carry small swiss army knives. You know the ones with tooth pics, scissors ect.
Now would I be arrested for felony unlawfull use of a weapon if I forgot I had one in my pocket and tried to enter a court house? Then have a $100,000 bond?
Then lose my right to have a gun?
Just think if you tried to enter a court house with your CCW.