A man has been arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport for trespassing after allegedly living at the airport for three months.
According to CBS Chicago’s Aditya Singh, he was convicted of trespassing after being found in a restricted area of the airport. Singh was also charged with theft of less than $ 500. He appeared in court on Sunday and received a $ 10,000 bond. If bail is posted, he will be monitored electronically.
Singh told police he was afraid to fly because of the coronavirus pandemic, Assistant State Attorney Kathleen Hagerty told the court, The Associated Press reported. When he was discovered at the airport, employees called the police.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Hagerty said Singh told authorities he had found an employee ID number and that other passengers at the airport had given him food.
Sheriff’s Office of Cook County via AP
‘So if I understand you correctly, you are telling me that an unauthorized person who is not working allegedly lived in a safe part of the O’Hare Airport terminal from October 19, 2020 to January 16, 2021, and Susana Ortiz, judge of Cook, said during the trial.
It’s unclear why Singh, from Orange, California, came to Chicago in the first place, Assistant Public Defender Courtney Smallwood said in court. She said Singh has no criminal background.
“The court finds these facts and circumstances quite shocking for the alleged period in which they occurred,” Ortiz said. “Because I believe in a secure part of the airport under a false ID badge, based on the need for airports to be absolutely safe so that people can feel safe to travel, I find the alleged conduct a danger to him. the community. “
The Department of Aviation in Chicago said in a statement that the incident is being investigated, but noted that we were able to determine that this man does not pose a safety risk to the airport or the traveling public.
CBS News has contacted the Cook County Attorneys’ Office for more information and is awaiting a response.