By William Lee
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — A duffel bag left unattended at Union Station led to the arrest of a California man who was in possession of a loaded handgun, body armor and SWAT equipment believed to be stolen from the New York City Police Department, prosecutors said Saturday.
A judge ordered Isaiah Malailua, of Redding, Calif., held on $100,000 bail during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
Amtrak police found the bag at the station in the 200 block of South Canal Street just before 9:30 a.m. Friday, prosecutors said. Canine officers were called in and authorities discovered police SWAT patches inside, as well as a Greyhound ticket with Malailua’s name on it, prosecutors said.
When police found Malailua at a ticket counter, they found he was wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying a loaded 9 mm Taurus-brand handgun, authorities said.
Prosecutors said the gear was believed to have been stolen from NYPD. A NYPD official Saturday afternoon said he had no information on this incident.
Malailua, 21, was later charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon/body armor. State law prohibits possession of body armor by someone who hasn’t been issued a state firearm owner’s identification card. The arrest comes weeks after a veteran Chicago police commander was slain downtown, allegedly by a convicted felon armed with a handgun and wearing body armor.
Judge John F. Lyke Jr. ordered Malailua held and ordered him to remain in Cook County during his case. Malailua returns to court next week.
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