Man accused of threatening to stab employee while allegedly stealing from Zion store

Prosecutors say a Zion man threatened to stab an employee with a knife after the employee confronted him about shoplifting at a Zion grocery store.

Tyson Darden-Patrick, 21, of Zion, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a Class A misdemeanor.

Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Mary Vukovich said officers were called Sept. 28 to Jewel-Osco, 1400 21st Street in Zion, for a report of a disturbance.

The victim, a store employee, saw Darden-Patrick conceal the merchandise on his person inside the store.

The employee tried to prevent Darden-Patrick from leaving, Vukovich said.

Darden-Patrick said he was going to stab the employee and pulled out a folding knife, Vukovich said.

Vukovich said Darden-Patrick stuck the knife into the employee but did not hit him. Darden-Patrick left and the victim called 911.

The victim provided a description of the suspect, and the knife and officers found Darden-Patrick the next day wearing the same clothes, Vukovich said.

A folding knife matching the given description was also recovered.

A public defender for Darden-Patrick said the security guard stopped his client, put his hands on him, wouldn’t let him go and blocked his exit, prompting Darden-Patrick to remove his “safety blade”.

A judge granted a petition filed by prosecutors to revoke Darden-Patrick’s pretrial release in another case after his arrest.

Darden-Patrick had been released pending trial in an October 2023 case in which he was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in Zion.