Reefer-Smoking Driver Had Loaded Gun In Car: Police

BOLINGBROOK, IL - A 39-year-old man out of Chicago is now staying in the Will County Jail after being charged with several felonies Wednesday night in Bolingbrook including the crime of being an armed habitual offender. When police stopped Vernon Taylor in Bolingbrook, his car reeked of the illegal drug of marijuana, and Taylor had a loaded gun inside the car even though Taylor is a convicted felon, police said.

According to Bolingbrook Police, a patrol officer saw a black Toyota car traveling without headlights around 9:50 p.m. and the driver crossed three lanes of traffic without signaling on Bolingbrook Drive as he approached Remington Boulevard.

"The car was stopped on Remington Boulevard and the driver was identified as Vernon Taylor, 39 years of age, from 150 S. Campbell Drive, Chicago. While speaking with Taylor officers could smell cannabis and observed cannabis residue in the car," police said.

When the officers had the car searched, they found something dangerous, reports show.

It was a weapon.

"Officers searched the car and located a loaded handgun under the driver’s seat of the car. Taylor was taken into custody and charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a felon and armed habitual offender," police reports state.

Taylor's bail was set at $350,000. He remained in the Will County Jail on Friday, unable to come up with $35,000 cash to set himself free.

Mugshot of Vernon Taylor via Will County Sheriff