Evanston Man Charged With Two Gun Crimes

EVANSTON, IL — An Evanston man wanted in connection with a shooting earlier this year was arrested Monday after detectives noticed him in an alley, police said.

Michael E. Johnson, 20, of the 1600 block of Thelin Court in Evanston, had an aggravated discharge of a firearm warrant in connection with a shooting incident that took place Feb. 17. Police said he was identified by investigators as the person that fired several shots that afternoon on the 1600 block of Foster Street, hitting two separate homes and causing no injuries.

Police already knew Johnson was wanted when they encountered him the 7200 block of North Hamilton in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago around 4:37 p.m. on Monday, according to Evanston Police Cmdr. Joseph Dugan. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Evanston — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

When Johnson noticed the detectives from EPD's Neighborhood Enforcement Team, he took off running westbound, but an officer was able to apprehend him in a backyard of a home on the block, police said.

Police said Johnson had a loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine in his right pants leg as he fled officers. In addition to the charge stemming from the February incident, Johnson was also charged with another charge of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon after his arrest Monday, according to police.

Top photo: The handgun and extended clip police said they recovered from Michael E. Johnson | via Evanston PD