Traffic Stop Leads to Gun Arrest at James Park

On Aug. 10 at approximately 9 p.m., Evanston police made a traffic stop at James Park, 300 Dodge Ave. which led to an arrest for possession of a hand gun, said Commander James A. Pickett of the Evanston Police Department. 

Officers observed a person known to lack a license driving a vehicle eastbound toward Dodge Avenue from James Park, said the Commander. After conducting a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Levy Center, officers became concerned with the nervous behavior of the passenger in the front seat, said the Commander. The passenger was asked to step out of the vehicle, and the officers discovered a loaded Colt .45 semi-automatic hand gun while performing a safety pat down search, said the Commander.   

Officers took the passenger, an 18 year old resident of Chicago, into custody without incident. He was

charged with Felony Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Possession of a Firearm without a Requisite Firearm Owner’s Identification Card, and a city ordinance violation of Handgun Possession, said the Commander. The initial court date is set for Aug. 23.