Evanston police recovered loaded handguns in separate incidents this week, and had to use a Taser to subdue a suspect in one, police said Thursday.
In the first incident, which occurred shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday, members of the department’s tactical unit conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by four individuals in the 1800 block of Dodge Avenue, said Commander Joseph Dugan, department spokesperson, in a release issued Thursday.
During the course of the stop, a passenger exited the vehicle and dropped a loaded Para-Ordnance .45 caliber handgun on the ground, Dugan said.
The 16-year-old passenger, an Evanston resident, was taken into custody and transported to the police station, Dugan said.
The teen was subsequently charged with unlawful use of weapon in a public way, and unlawful use of a weapon by someone under 18 years of age, as well as having no firearm owner’s identification card; he also was cited for failure to wear a safety belt.
He was transported to the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center. Due to the age of the arrestee, no further information can be provided, Dugan said.
In the second incident, which occurred just after midnight Thursday, patrol officers observed several individuals in Beck Park, 2428 Emerson St., after closing hours, Dugan said.
The officers approached the group, at which time one of the individuals, later identified as Dijon N. Caffie, fled on foot, running northbound, he said.
The officer then caught up with Caffie in the 2300 block of Foster Street, at which time Caffie turned to face the officer, prompting the officer to draw his Taser and make verbal commands to stop, Dugan said.
When Caffie did not comply, the officer deployed his Taser and was able to take him into custody, Dugan said.
Caffie, of the 7000 block of North Damen Avenue, Chicago, was charged with city ordinance violations and resisting a peace officer. Caffie appeared in court Thursday, where bail was set at $5,000, according to a state’s attorney spokesperson. Caffie is next due in court Sept. 8.
A loaded Sar Arms 9mm handgun was located in the area, Dugan said..
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The recovered handgun was sent to the crime laboratory for further analysis, Dugan said; further charges related to the gun are pending lab results.
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