Loaded Gun Found After Foot Pursuit, 2 Arrested in Palatine: Police

PALATINE, IL — Two Palatine men were arrested earlier this month after one, who police said had a loaded gun, was seen vandalizing a building. The incident occurred at around 11:40 a.m. April 9, in the 1900 block of N. Green Lane.

According to police, the charges were:

• Edgar Garcia, 19, of the 0–10 block of E. Dundee Quarter, Palatine, is accused of a felony charge of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (loaded firearm), and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a firearm without a Firearm Owner's Identification card.
• Alexis Sanchez, 26, of the 1500 Block of Crimson Lane, Palatine, is accused of fleeing/eluding a police officer, and reckless driving.

Police were responding to the area for a report of a man with a gun vandalizing an exterior wall on a building. Later identified as Garcia, the man was dressed similarly to the suspect, and fled on foot from the officers and entered into a gray Chevrolet Equinox. The Equinox, which was being driven by Sanchez, then fled the scene.

Additional responding officers were able to stop the vehicle in the 0–10 block of E. Dundee Quarter. As the vehicle stopped, Garcia again attempted to flee on foot, according to police. During the subsequent foot pursuit, officers saw Garcia remove a handgun from his hoodie and throw it into a nearby creek. Following the brief foot pursuit, Palatine officers took Garcia into custody and recovered the loaded handgun from the creek.

Garcia is being detained in the Cook County Jail until his next hearing on April 30. Sanchez was released and assigned a court date of May 12.