Chicago Tribune - February 7, 2005
Angela Rozas and Tom Rybarczyk, Tribune staff reporters.

A Chicago Department of Public Health employee who founded a group that raised money to help combat HIV and AIDS was charged with murder Sunday for allegedly running over a cabdriver with the man's taxi after a quarrel last week.

Michael L. Jackson, 37, turned himself in to police Friday, but on the advice of his attorneys, he made no statements about allegedly driving over Haroon Paryani, 61, after a quarrel on a North Side street. Jackson, who has worked for the last 13 months in the Public Health Department's sexually transmitted disease/HIV/AIDS division as a policy and communications specialist, was charged with first-degree murder and vehicular hijacking. He is expected in court for a bond hearing Monday.

A police commander Sunday described Paryani falling to the ground in front of the cab and Jackson allegedly driving the cab over the man three times.

Jackson's arrest shocked colleagues and friends, who described him as a mild-mannered man dedicated to his work in the HIV/AIDS community.

"This is unbelievable," said longtime friend and colleague Todd Armbruster, vice president of Hearts Foundation, which Jackson founded in 1992. "He's such a docile and caring human being. I can't imagine him hurting a flea."

Paryani, a Pakistani immigrant who had been a cabdriver for 20 years, was driving for Seven Day Cab Co. He had a wife and four children, ages 16 to 32.

Paryani's family gathered in his wife's home Sunday in prayer, and a family spokesman said the family would discuss the arrest publicly Monday.

Paryani and Jackson got into a quarrel in the 500 block of West Briar Place near Belmont Avenue and Broadway about 12:30 a.m. Friday, reportedly over cab fare, police said. The quarrel became physical, and Paryani was pushed or fell in front of his cab, police said.

Then Jackson allegedly jumped into the cab, started the car and drove the front wheels over Paryani, said Cmdr. Michael Chasen, head of the Belmont District's detective division.

"We believe he got the first two wheels over," Chasen said. "He then put the car in reverse, backed over him and then put the car in drive again--and this time completely drove over him with both the front and rear wheels."

Jackson then allegedly sped away from the scene, hitting several cars, before turning northbound onto Broadway, where he lost control of the car, police said. It spun 360 degrees before coming to rest wedged between two other cars, Chasen said.

Jackson allegedly took off on foot, and a witness saw him hail another cab at Belmont and Cambridge Avenue, he said.

Later Friday, one of Jackson's attorneys called police and told them they had a client who may have been involved in the incident. Jackson turned himself in, but he did not make any statements, Chasen said.

"Michael, as do we, looks forward to all the facts in this terrible tragedy coming out," said one of Jackson's attorneys, Michael Oppenheimer.

Jackson's family in Peoria had no comment. Chasen said police did not know if alcohol was involved. No tests were performed on Jackson because he had turned himself in many hours after the incident, he said.

But he said Jackson was identified by "many, many" witnesses and in a number of lineups, and that physical evidence from the scene is being examined.

Jackson had no previous arrest record in Chicago, although he appeared to have a DUI conviction in 1993 in Georgia, Chasen said.

The record may have been expunged, he said.

A Department of Public Health spokesman released a brief statement Sunday about Jackson that confirmed he worked for the department.

"With charges being filed, we will take steps to terminate Mr. Jackson's employment," the statement read.

Armbruster said he met Jackson when they both volunteered in a group called Bringing Our Hearts Together, which raised money for the Test Positive Awareness Network, an HIV-education and support group.

Jackson had natural leadership skills, and he soon organized a push to create the Hearts Foundation so they could raise more money for a number of HIV/AIDS community groups, he said. Jackson helped to incorporate the organization, and then served as its president until about four years ago, Armbruster said.

Jackson was quick to aid any other group that needed help, Armbruster said.

"People called to him for advice and suggestions and who to contact for what. He's well respected by everyone he came in touch with," Armbruster said.

"From what I know, he was a valued member of the community," said Ald. Tom Tunney (44th). "Why he snapped, I don't know. It's just sad and tragic."

Darryl Nash, spokesman for the Howard Brown Health Center, said he worked with Jackson.

"He was obviously very dedicated to his job. Like everyone else will tell you, [the arrest] was a complete surprise. It just does not make sense," Nash said.

Tribune staff reporter Carlos Sadovi contributed to this report

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