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Two charged in Evanston traffic stop
Updated: August 20, 2012 6:35AM
EVANSTON -- Two Evanston men were arrested Friday evening after police pulled over a vehicle for a minor traffic violation, police said Saturday.
Around 8:30 p.m. Friday, police pulled the vehicle over at Simpson Street and Crawford Avenue. Four people were in the vehicle.
Upon making contact with the driver, the officer detected an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle and noticed “furtive movements made by a back-seat passenger,” according to a news release by the Evanston Police Department.
Assisted by additional officers as well as the Skokie Police Department’s canine unit, a search of the driver, occupants and vehicle was conducted that resulted in the recovery of 4 grams of a green leafy substance, suspect marijuana, as well as a loaded .380-caliber handgun, which was found in a backpack on the floor of the back seat, according to the release.
“Further investigation determined that the suspect marijuana field tested positive, the gun had been reported stolen in the state of Michigan, and the backpack belonged to one of the back-seat passengers, who is a suspected gang member,” the release said. “Subsequently, the driver and one of the back-seat passengers were taken into custody and transported to the Evanston Police Department for processing.”
The other two occupants of the vehicle were released without charge.
Eduardo A. Cruz, 28, of 2013 Dodge Ave., was charged with one count each of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony; theft/possession of stolen property, a Class A misdemeanor; unlawful use of a weapon/possession of a firearm without a valid Firearms Owners Identification Card, a Class A misdemeanor; and unlawful use of a weapon/possession of ammunition without a valid Firearms Owners Identification Card, a Class A misdemeanor.
The driver, Luis D. Gomez, 25, of 2125 Emerson St., was charged with a city ordinance violation for alleged possession of marijuana.
Both are due in court July 27 in Cook County 2nd District Circuit Court, Skokie.
