Man arrested in luggage scare at Ogilvie Transportation Center
Metra police arrested a Georgia man following a suspicious luggage scare that evacuated Ogilvie Transportation Center Wednesday.
Rajender Chandani, 46, of Hogansville, Georgia, was apprehended after officers saw him going into the downtown station at about 8:20 p.m.
He is charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly leaving luggage at Ogilvie after a brief conversation with a janitor.
The emergency closed down much of the commuter service that operates out of Ogilvie, which meant it took time for some trains and crews to get back in position, resulting in delays during Wednesday's early afternoon rush as well.
No Metra trains were allowed in or out of the downtown station as of midmorning Wednesday after police were called in after a janitor saw a suitcase and a bag left near the train tracks by a man who was behaving suspiciously. Metra announced at 12:19 p.m. that trains were running again.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel confirmed the threat was not bona fide but commended responders and the janitor "who saw something suspicious and said something to authorities."
The basement, street level, train boarding area and first two floors of Ogilvie at 500 W. Madison St. were evacuated. Sections of Madison Street and the Metra Market were blocked off to the public as well.