Car Passenger Found With Loaded Gun, Cocaine During Traffic Stop: Palatine PD

PALATINE, IL — Police pulled over a car for multiple traffic violations Tuesday night, and during the subsequent stop, found a loaded gun and cocaine in the car belonging to a passenger in the vehicle. David Pacheco, 27, of the 1900 block of N. Cambridge Court, was arrested and charged with felony counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with revoked FOID, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).

Pacheco, who appeared in court Thursday, was ordered to remain in the Cook County Jail until his next court appearance on Aug. 4. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office approved the felony charges.

Palatine police tell Patch the driver of the car was released from the scene after receiving two traffic related citations.

According to police, at around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers saw a black Mercedes-Benz commit multiple traffic violations while traveling southbound on Route 53 between North Rand Road and Northwest Highway. Police initiated a traffic stop near Route 53 and Northwest Highway.

During the stop, officers found an open alcohol container on the front passenger-side floorboard. The passenger, identified as Pacheco, was seen repeatedly reaching toward the floorboard and attempting to conceal items beneath grocery bags.

During a search of the car, police recovered suspected cocaine and a tan, loaded handgun with an extended magazine concealed under the grocery bags on the passenger-side floorboard — the same area police said Pacheco had been manipulating. The firearm was confirmed to be reported stolen out of Indiana.