Fleeing Parolee Drops Firearm: Police

EVANSTON, IL — An Evanston parolee was arrested and charged with multiple firearm felonies after police responded to a call about an armed man Monday. Around 8:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of Hovland Court after a receiving a report that a dreadlocked man with a red hooded sweatshirt had been seen with a handgun, police said. At first, officers were not able to find anyone meeting the description, but they stayed in the area for a bit and noticed a man matching the description and carrying a black backpack walking down the 1800 block of Lemar Avenue, according to Evanston Police Cmdr. Joseph Dugan.

When the man noticed the cops, he took off running through peoples' yards, shedding his shoes and his backpack, police said. Officers chased him and took him into custody in the same block. Officers found what they said were his shoes and backpack in a yard he had just run through. Inside the backpack, police found a loaded Springfield Arms .43 caliber pistol and an extra magazine with .45 caliber ammo inside.

Retreage had been released on parole for a previous gun possession felony, as well as a charge of damaging police property by kicking the door of a squad car after he was arrested, last December.

Police said the Illinois Department of Corrections also issued a parole violation warrant for his arrest because he had been on parole at the time of the incident.

As of Wednesday, Retreage was being held at Cook County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail.

_{Top photo: Devane O. Retreage}