A Chicago man is facing allegations of carrying a machete on a CTA train just two days after being released by a judge to await trial for a prior machete-related arrest. This situation raises concerns about why more severe charges were not filed initially, which might have resulted in his detention from the outset.
Ronald Reed, 31, was arrested by Chicago police at the Clark-Lake station around 2:51 p.m. on July 8 after officers found a machete in his possession, according to a CPD report. A police spokesperson stated that Reed was initially stopped for having an open can of alcohol, leading to the discovery of the weapon.
However, prosecutors chose not to pursue felony charges against him.
“After a thorough review, we concluded that the evidence was insufficient to support felony charges related to the incident on July 8, 2026,” a spokesperson for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office explained. “The CCSAO remains committed to making all charging decisions based on the evidence and the law.”
Instead, Reed was issued ordinance violations for possessing a weapon and alcohol on the CTA, along with misdemeanor charges for obstructing police, as per court records. None of these offenses are detainable under the SAFE-T Act, leading to Reed’s release after a court appearance on July 9, according to records.
On July 11, around 2:15 p.m., Cook County Sheriff’s police encountered Reed with an open can of beer on a Green Line train near the Austin station, as reported by the sheriff’s office.
Officers informed Reed that drinking alcohol on the train violated CTA rules and took him into custody for disorderly conduct, according to the sheriff’s office. During a search, officers reportedly found a machete with an 18-inch blade in a sling on Reed’s back, along with a knife featuring a 5-inch serrated blade in a holster, the sheriff’s office stated.
Body camera footage released by the sheriff’s office captures the exchange:
“You have anything on you I should know about?” an officer inquires.
“I got a machete,” Reed replies.
“Where’s your machete?” the officer asks.
“It’s in my back.”
This time, prosecutors charged Reed with being a felon in possession of a weapon, which is a detainable offense. Judge Deidre Dyer ordered him to remain in jail pending trial.
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