Man Parachuting Off High-Rise In Loop Arrested

CHICAGO (STMW) - A far southwest Ottawa man was arrested after parachuting off a skyscraper under under construction early Sunday in the Loop.

About 2:40 a.m. a Central District patrol officer was near a construction site at 117 W. Wacker Dr. when he heard a "loud popping sound,'' according to police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli. "He looked around and he sees an individual floating down onto Wacker Drive."

After he landed on the ground, the officer made sure the man, 44-year-old Shaun Walters, was not hurt and he placed Walters under arrest, Mirabelli said.

Walters had apparently parachuted off the building under construction at the Wacker address, which is planned for 90-stories.

"The officer took proactive actions to prevent danger to himself, nearby pedestrians and vehicular traffic,'' Mirabelli said. "It (parachuting) does pose a very serious danger."

Walters, of the 3200 block of East 1969 Rd. in Ottawa, Ill., was charged with one count of reckless conduct, a misdemeanor, according to Mirabelli.

Walters is scheduled to appear May 17 in Misdemeanor Court (Br. 43-4), at 1:30 p.m. It was not known immediately why he was parachuting.

© Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.