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player ready...An apparent case of road rage in Evanston late last month led to felony weapons charges against a Chicago man last week, police said.
Amir Smajlovic, 37, of the 1800 block of West Peterson Avenue, Chicago, was charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, misdemeanor aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, misdemeanor driving on a license expired by more than a year and cited for no proof of insurance on Nov. 15 following an Oct. 27 road rage incident in Evanston, police said in a news release.
According to the news release, officers responded to the 500 block of Grove Street in Evanston for an aggravated assault incident. The officers learned that the victim was driving northbound in the 2100 block of Sheridan Road when they became involved in a traffic altercation, the release said.
It said the victim had slowed down, causing another vehicle, a black Nissan Xterra, to slow down as well. The driver of the black Nissan pulled alongside the victim, engaged in a verbal altercation, and pointed a gun at the victim before fleeing the area. The offender did not fire the weapon and the victim gave police a suspect and vehicle description, according to the news release.
It said that on Nov. 15 an Evanston detective saw the black Nissan being driven by Smajlovic in the 700 block of Clark Street. Smajlovic was stopped, placed in custody, and his vehicle was searched, said the news release.
It said police found a loaded Kahr Arms CW9 handgun in the vehicle. Smajlovic’s driver’s license had also been expired for more than a year and he had no proof of insurance, a valid FOID card or Concealed Carry License.
Smajlovic made a statement, according to police, admitting to possessing the Kahr and being the offender in the aggravated assault where he used the Kahr.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the investigation and approved a felony charges. A Cook County Judge did not detain Smajlovic and his next court date is Nov. 30 at the Skokie Courthouse, the news release said.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.