A Hillside man has been charged with carrying an unlawful weapon after Cook County sheriff’s officers said they found him in a park with the gun.
Jovantae Withers, 23, was found by sheriff’s officers about 2:45 p.m. Friday in Melrose Park, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office. He had a 9 mm pistol in his waistband fully loaded with a 14-round clip.
Officers were responding to another complaint in the 2300 block of North Mannheim Road when they learned that a man was in the area with a gun and found Withers with the pistol.
Sheriff’s officers took him into custody after finding he did not have a firearm owner’s identification card or a concealed carry permit.
Officers also found that he had a previous felony conviction for residential burglary in 2014.
Withers appeared in court Saturday and was charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He was released on a personal recognizance bond.
Withers will appear before a judge again Tuesday.