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player ready...An Evanston man was charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon after police stopped his vehicle, smelled cannabis then did a search and found a loaded revolver, officials said.
On Dec. 13, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Evanston police on patrol in the area of the 2100 block of Howard Street observed a black Honda SUV with suspended registration and performed a traffic stop, police said in a news release.
It said officers made contact with the driver, Eugenio Hernandez-Martinez, 24, of the 200 block of Ridge Avenue, Evanston, and while talking to Hernandez-Martinez, police smelled an odor of cannabis coming from inside the vehicle. Hernandez-Martinez told police he had smoked cannabis before driving, but said there was no cannabis in the vehicle.
Hernandez-Martinez and a passenger exit the vehicle and in an effort to continue their investigation officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded Taurus 38 revolver handgun, said the news release. It said Hernandez-Martinez “volunteered that the gun was his” and he was arrested and taken to the Evanston police station for further investigation.
The investigation revealed that Hernandez-Martinez did not have a FOID card or a Concealed Carry License, said the news release. It also said Hernandez-Martinez told police the handgun was his and that he had “purchased it three years ago for protection.”
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the investigation and approved one felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Hernandez-Martinez was also cited for suspended registration. The passenger was released at the scene. Hernandez-Martinez was not detained by the Cook County Sheriff and his next court date is Jan. 23.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.