Waukegan Man Draws Attention By Wearing Bulletproof Vest In Court, Name-Checking ISIS
(CBS) – A Waukegan man who previously claimed he was joining ISIS was arrested last week after he showed up at the Lake County, Ill. Courthouse wearing a bulletproof vest, the Sheriff's Department says.
Hakeem K. Shaifer, 38, was observed wearing the body armor Dec. 21 in a courtroom. Although authorities determined he was in the building for a legitimate court case, the sheriff's department learned Shaifer previously had been arrested by police in Lake Forest, where he told them "he was joining the terrorist organization, 'ISIS,'" the sheriff's department said in a news release issued Monday.
Shaifer was asked to remove his bullet proof vest and left the courthouse, but not before allegedly saying he was in possession of "fully automatic weapons."
On Dec.22, county authorities executed a search warrant at Shaifer's residence and found pieces of body armor, pistol and rifle ammunition and cannabis and drug paraphernalia.
Shaifer was charged with misdemeanor offenses that included unlawful possession of ammunition and drug paraphernalia and cannabis. He remained in the Lake County Jail, held on $20,000 bond, the Lake County Sheriff's Department said.
His next court date is Jan. 7. County officials have consulted with the FBI.
"The Lake County Sheriff's Office takes it very seriously when someone in Lake County claims any affiliation with a terrorist organization. We will continue to remain vigilant to suspicious activity in Lake County, especially in public venues," Sheriff Mark Curran said.