Two men were arrested Monday in Evanston and now face charges after separate incidents related to a burglary and unlawful use of a weapon by a convicted felon and alleged gang member, police announced Tuesday.
Sargon Mirza, 24, of the 800 block of N. Marshfield Avenue in Chicago, was charged with felony burglary, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, criminal damage and criminal trespass to property after he allegedly stole electronics and other items from a residence on Mulford Street Monday evening. Kenneth E. Campbell, 19, of the 7800 block of Lamon Avenue in Skokie, was charged Monday night with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member, defacing identification marks of a firearm, no valid firearm owners ID card, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of cannabis and disobedience to a police officer after he allegedly fled from police and attempted to throw away a handgun he was carrying.
Police said the 62-year-old resident of a residence in the 1600 block of Mulford Street returned home at about 6:11 p.m. Monday and noticed an unknown man inside her house. The man subsequently fled from the house carrying the woman’s suitcase. Officers responded and observed Mirza running near the CTA tracks between Mulford Street and Brummel Street. Mirza was arrested in the 1400 block of Brummel Street and “was positively identified as being the offender in the incident,” according to police. The suitcase, which contained two laptops, a tablet, purse, video camera and a jar full of coins belonging to the resident, was found near the woman’s home. Police said Mirza entered the woman’s residence by breaking out a window on the rear door to her home. After Mirza was taken to the Evanston Police Department, police said they discovered he was in illegal possession of Vicodin and Hydrocodone pills.
Police said patrol officers spotted Campbell at about 7 p.m. yesterday in the 700 block of Howard Street while conducting a “targeted deployment.” Police said officers recognized Campbell who was known to them “through previous contacts as an active gang member.” Police said Campbell was holding what appeared to be a bulky object covered by his shirt near his waistband.
As officers exited their squad car and attempted to speak with Campbell, police said he fled westbound while holding his waistband to the rear entrance of a business in the 700 block of Howard Street where he discarded a black handgun, later identified as a loaded Canik 9mm semi-automatic handgun, that had been hidden beneath his shirt. Campbell was subsequently arrested and transported to the Evanston Police Department, police said. Evanston Police Cmdr. Joe Dugan said police found less than 2.5 grams of cannabis and an electronic vaporizing cigarette used to smoke cannabis on Campbell following his arrest.
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Dugan said both Campbell and Mirza were due in bond court in Skokie on Tuesday.
Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.