Loud Cannabis Car Party Leads To Felony Gun Arrests: Des Plaines PD

DES PLAINES, IL — Two passengers in a car where the driver admitted all occupants were smoking cannabis were arrested on felony gun charges following a Saturday incident. Ladonus Rogers, 20, of the 240 block of Concord Lane, Carol Stream, and Austin Salas Vargas, 21, of the 1200 block of Fordham Drive, Glendale Heights, are accused of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Rogers was also charged with a misdemeanor count of firearm owner's identification card required. Both men were released after their arrests.

Police responded to the 500 block of LaSalle Street at 10:53 p.m. March 16, following a complaint of a "loud party." While checking the area, police identified that the noise was coming from a parked silver Chevrolet Malibu.

As police approached the car, they saw it contained five occupants, and the driver appeared to be smoking cannabis. When the driver opened a car door, a large amount of smoke came out, which police said smelled like burnt cannabis. According to police, the driver admitted they were smoking cannabis and consented to police searching the vehicle when requested. All the occupants were asked to step out of the car.

Police said Rogers, who was sitting in the rear driver's side, refused to exit the vehicle, saying he didn't need to. Police then informed Rogers that smoking cannabis in a motor vehicle is illegal, and the request to search the car was legal. When Rogers was told he needed to comply with the request, he continued to refuse, clutched his left arm close to his body, and ignored the officers' instructions.

Eventually, Rogers began to comply on his own, with officers assisting him out of the car and escorting him to the back of it. Police located a large bulge in the front of Rogers' sweatshirt and the barrel of a silver handgun. Rogers, who didn't have a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, was taken into custody.

Police said Salas Vargas, who had been seated in the rear passenger side, was asked if he had a firearm prior to exiting the car multiple times, to which he said no. When asked one last time before getting out of the car, Salas Vargas reportedly admitted to having one in his pants.