Josh Marks, a 26-year-old MasterChef finalist was arrested Monday morning by the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) after allegedly hitting a cop and attempting to disarm him during an aggressive encounter with Chicago police officers.

The reported incident occurred when an UCPD officer noticed Marks, with visible cuts on his face, trying to use a university emergency phone. The officer approached the former basketball player, who was acting strangely and asked him if anything was wrong.

At the time, Marks attacked him and tried to grab his gun.

Immediately, three other officers tried to calm the 7-foot-2 season 3 runner-up on the food reality show. Marks managed to escape despite being pepper sprayed and hit with a baton. He was finally detained by five officers in a resident's backyard.

In custody, Marks blamed Gordon Ramsay, a prominent celebrity chef, for his explosion, claiming that 'a**hole Ramsay possessed his body and turned him into a God.'

Marks was then taken to nearby hospital to be treated for his injuries. At the hospital, doctors removed bullet fragments from his face.

Police authorities found no evidence of drug use that might have fueled his strange outburst.

"Josh was two different people ... He seemed to always be a party guy, but he had this other side trying to be good. He had split personalities," said Tali Clavijo, a fellow MasterChef contestant.

Marks, a former Jackson resident has been booked with two felonies including aggravated battery on a peace officer and attempting to disarm the officer. If convicted, Marks faces a maximum of 14 years in prison.

Currently, he is cuffed to a gurney in a Chicago-area hospital.

"We are working closely with medical professionals to determine if Josh's behavior could be related to mental health symptoms," said Lisa Marie Butler, Josh's attorney. "The Josh that you are hearing about in police reports this morning is not the spirited Gentle Giant that we know."

Topics Arrest, Morning, University of Chicago