An Aurora teenager is facing seven felony and multiple misdemeanor charges after police said a handgun fell out of the waistband of his pants as he ran from police.
Aurora Police Department spokesman Dan Ferrelli said that members of the department’s Special Operations Group were near Spring Street and East Avenue around 6:08 p.m. Dec. 26 when they noticed a group of men, who they knew to be gang members, walking in the area.
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Knowing that some of the men were on probation, which prohibited them from hanging out with other gang members, officers decided to stop and question the group.
Ferrelli said that as they observed the men from afar, officers said they noticed two of the men reach for their waistbands, as if trying to conceal weapons.
When the officers got out of their vehicle to confront the men, a 17-year-old Aurora boy and a 20-year-old Aurora man began to run, Ferrelli said.
Police said the 20-year-old, Gaudencio Garcia, 200 block of North Ohio Street, also attempted to block one officer from chasing after the 17-year-old as he ran away.
According to Ferrelli, as the 17-year-old ran from police, a handgun fell from the waistband of his pants and onto the ground. The gun was recovered, and the teen was taken into custody.
Garcia, who briefly evaded police, was located several minutes later in an alley in the 700 block of East New York Street.
Garcia was charged with two counts of misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer and improper walking in the roadway.
Ferrelli said the 17-year-old was charged with four counts of felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of felony unlawful use of a weapon, and a single count of felony possession of ammunition. He was also charged with misdemeanor unlawful contact with a street gang member, obstructing a peace officer and improper walking in the roadway.