Facing Foreclosure, Man Brings Gun To Courthouse

Thomas Pridgeon had been faced with losing his home since 2009, when New York-based BNY Mellon filed an action against him in Cook County Court.

At a hearing on Monday, his home was to be sold to a lender in North Carolina, who bought the property at a tax auction. He would have had 30 days to leave his house on the 7300 block of South Laflin and turn it over to its new owners.

But instead of attending a foreclosure hearing, Pridgeon was immediately arrested at the Daley Center. He arrived to the court building carrying a fully loaded .45-caliber handgun.

According to a release from the Cook County Sheriff's Office, a courthouse deputy noticed the outline of the weapon on the X-ray image of Pridgeon's briefcase.

His motivations are unknown: though clearly in desperate straits, Pridgeon told officials that he simply forgot it was in the case.

There was one round in the chamber of the weapon, and seven more in the clip.

The Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune report that Pridgeon was arrested and charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

Comments

[mediamarv]

09:51 PM on 08/25/2010

If he's a Teabagger, it's OK, right?

[Ynot19]

08:41 PM on 08/25/2010

GOTTA LOVE THE MEDIA sensationalizing everything. This statement takes the cake. "His motivations are unknown: though clearly in desperate straits". I know this guy (grew up with him, was just hanging out with him a month ago when I was back in Chicago.. Let me run down his dire straits.
. He makes six figures a year
. He drive a 700 series BMW
. Oh by the way, Here is the kicker... he does not live in that property being foreclosed. He lives in a $1,500 a month apt. not far from the magnificient mile in Chicago (this property is in the hood). This property is a rental property because of the economy he let go and he was just going to see how much longer he had to collect rent.
A little bit of research would have provided any journalist this information. It is sad how the media (lack or true reporting) drives this country. Everyone that reads this article will leave believing this man snapped facing the thought of losing everything.

No you cannot have a permit for a gun in the city of Chicago.
Yes, he carries a gun (has several) for protection. You want to know why? google the crime/murder situation currently in Chicago.

As dumb as it is... He simply did not know...

[icu2b1]

11:50 PM on 08/25/2010

If your information is real, I agee with you, the impression I got from the article was just what you stated.

[Hasam]

04:14 PM on 08/25/2010

Did he have a license to carry a gun? here in Texas gun ownership is very common, why did he get arrested?

[grossmont328]

07:56 PM on 08/25/2010

Knowing the gun laws in Chicago--I rather doubt he had a permit since Mayor Daley and the aldermen seem to have a problem with civilians owning firearms

[Joe Berner]

09:17 AM on 08/26/2010

There are no CCW's in the state of Illinois, and currently you can't even take your firearm into your garage or yard legally(well, except for unloaded in a container for the purposes of transport etc...) in Chicago.

[grossmont328]

06:16 PM on 08/26/2010

Knowing the BC/VPC--they will use this yoyo to scream about the evils of CCW

[Hasam]

03:57 PM on 08/25/2010

Did he have a permit for the gun? why did he get arrested?? Here in TX I carry a weapon in my vehicle. I have a license. BUT I WOULD never forget where I left it.

[grossmont328]

06:17 PM on 08/26/2010

THis is Chicago we are talking about

[Grimway]

04:31 AM on 08/25/2010

Look at this man. He is the new face of freedom in America. Like our troops, we as a people are PTSD. Pissed, Tired, Sick and disspairing.

[Torak Nor]

02:09 AM on 08/25/2010

And we honest bankers just keep on lending....

[gop4obama]

08:45 PM on 08/24/2010

Chances are that all that stood between a dead judge and a few dead lawyers today was the careful work of the deputy at the screening area. This man likely would have died today, too. All over a house.

People, remember, " A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. ..." was not written to permit citizens in modern society to have unfettered access to guns. The Writers were concerned about foreign invasion by Britain and others onto our shores.

Thanks to the NRA and their well paid congressional constituents, we now have a society so violent and gun ridden that it's just not safe to raise children in. It's as easy in Chicago to buy a handgun as it is to buy a spare tire. The mere fact that our cities are flooded with guns, as they are with toothbrushes, results in high levels of lethal violence. Yes, thank you, NRA.

Long ago, common sense departed from our culture. We are paying for this insanity with lives.

[RevJimIII]

12:39 AM on 08/25/2010

Chances are you have made a lot of assumptions.

[grossmont328]

07:58 PM on 08/25/2010

read the Heller and McDonald decisions--Heller was brought by the Cato institute NOT the NRA

[gop4obama]

05:31 PM on 08/26/2010

Cato Institute and NRA share the same ideology, and have the same constituent group. Cato has just been more aggressive than NRA in testing the Courts...NRA was reluctant only because they thought they would lose these cases.

All of them neo-con bedbugs. I appreciate your point, but it is a point without a distinction.

[sloreader]

08:18 PM on 08/24/2010

Top ten places NOT to take your firearm... 1. Airport; 2. Courthouse; 3. Swimming...

[RevJimIII]

12:41 AM on 08/25/2010

Airports are not off limits to legally carried arms until you hit the secure areas. Courthouses often have lockers for you to secure your weapon in. Who swims with a firearm, besides the SEALS that is...

[sloreader]

11:41 PM on 08/25/2010

Fair enough Rev.

[GetACluepeople]

07:34 PM on 08/24/2010

For all of you crackin on the guy with prison jokes laugh at this. Inside the US Army right now the Army at no time since Vietnam is cracking down on soldiers to "NOT QUESTION ORDERS" PERIOD.. what do you think this is a prelude to? If you (Wash) knew the "natives" were starting to finally get it...they've been massively screwed, and they just might get a bit out of hand who will keep the people in order? Note to Washington, the troops are talking they know their parents, brothers, sisters, cousins down to grandma and grandpa are struggling and they are not (aint) happy!

"The Revolution will be Twittered"

[Hasam]

04:06 PM on 08/25/2010

OK but are they mostly liberal or conservative?

[Rick Eriksen]

07:04 PM on 08/24/2010

Sad that everything is coming apart...and it is all just beginning, that is even sadder for all of us...

Wonder how much longer the NRA crowd is going to think that concealed handgun plan is such a good idea…

[Nichole Boultas]

07:34 PM on 08/24/2010

I'm with you on that one.

[mackbolan]

08:06 PM on 08/24/2010

would you prefer open carry....

[Rooster Coburn]

06:40 PM on 08/24/2010

What's the big deal about? Just tell him, "Sir, it looks like you forgot that there is a firearm in your briefcase. Please return it to your vehicle and come back and we will re-screen you." Sheesh ! ! !

[RevJimIII]

12:59 AM on 08/25/2010

That would have been the sensible thing to do.

[BlackJAC]

06:11 PM on 08/24/2010

Didn't Congress pass some law saying that your creditors can take your house in lieu of nonpayment of debts but not your gun collection along with it? Good thing that one wasn't written based on pure emotion, huh?

[Giovanni Loew]

06:06 PM on 08/24/2010

If government does these things to people, people will get desperate, and these things happen. That's the ugly truth. Stop the foreclosures and they will be peaceful

[Nichole Boultas]

07:36 PM on 08/24/2010

I've got to agree with you there.

[RevJimIII]

01:00 AM on 08/25/2010

Relieve all consequences? What a world that would be.. count me out.

[angrymanspokane]

06:05 PM on 08/24/2010

Something very bad might have been about to happen, chalk one up for the screeners.

[BlackJAC]

06:08 PM on 08/24/2010

The screeners are there as a matter of course to begin with.

[arrock]

06:11 PM on 08/24/2010

agreed..they most likely saved some lives today

[zombywulf]

06:32 PM on 08/24/2010

Yes, the greedy bankers lived to screw more people

[Please-Play-Fair]

06:00 PM on 08/24/2010

Blame Fox News ... I'm sure they told him to do it.