Police: Shoplifter armed with knife lunged at cops in Park Ridge

A man has been charged with lunging at police officers with a knife after shoplifting Saturday afternoon in northwest suburban Park Ridge.

Daniel J. Cushing, 52, has been charged with one felony count of armed robbery, and misdemeanor counts of aggravated assault, unlawful use of a weapon and retail theft, according to a statement from Park Ridge police.

Officers responded at 2:26 p.m. to a call of retail theft and aggravated assault in the 800 block of Devon Avenue, police said.

Cushing had walked into a store and then walked back out with merchandise without paying, police said. When an employee confronted him, Cushing showed a knife and threatened the worker.

He was spotted in the 600 block of Devon and, when officers approached, he charged at one officer with the knife, then rode away on a bicycle, police said.

The officers followed and he was confronted again in the 1300 block of West Crescent Avenue, police said. He again advanced toward the officers with the knife and ignored their orders to drop the weapon, prompting the officers to use a Taser. He refused medical treatment.

Cushing, who lives in the 1020 block of South Delphia Avenue in Park Ridge, appeared in court Tuesday and was ordered held on a $150,000 bond, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office. He is next scheduled to appear in court Aug. 22.