A Des Plaines man is facing felony weapons and drugs charges after he was arrested with a loaded gun and 34 grams of cocaine on April 17 as Evanston police were investigating a report of shots fired on Howard Street, authorities said.
Elkimani Hairston, 41, of the 9900 block of Linda Lane, Des Plaines, is charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (concealed) felony possession of a controlled substance (15 to 100 grams of cocaine), felony driving on a revoked license, misdemeanor possession of ammunition without a FOID card, and misdemeanor possession of a handgun without a Firearm Owners Identification card, following the April 17 incident in the 1400 block of Howard Street in Evanston, police said in a release Thursday.
They said that approximately 12:45 a.m. April 17, Evanston police responded to a call of shots fired in the 1400 block of Howard Street and that the caller said they witnessed “a shot being fired from a white Jeep Wagoneer before it fled east on Howard Street.”
Officers arrived and checked the area and a Jeep matching the description of the offending vehicle was located at Howard Street and Custer Avenue, the release said. It said the vehicle was stopped and an officer made contact with Hairston, who was the driver. As an officer approached the vehicle “he saw Hairston reach under his seat,” said the release. It said Hairston was ordered to get out the vehicle but did not comply and instead “tried to place the Jeep into drive in an effort to flee.” Officers were able to open the vehicle door and remove Hairston from the vehicle, the release said.
It said that once Hairston was detained, officers discovered he had a loaded Lorcin 380 handgun under his seat. It also said at the time of his arrest Hairston was in possession of approximately 34 grams of cocaine in his sweater pocket, packaged in a plastic glove.
Hairston’s license was revoked and did not have a FOID card or Concealed Carry License, said the release. It said the Cook County State’s Attorneys Office reviewed the investigation and approved the felony charges against Hairston.
There were two passengers in the vehicle, and one was issued a drug paraphernalia citation prior to being released and the other passenger was released without charges or citations, according to the release.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
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