Loaded Gun Falls Out Of Teen's Pants

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston police said a loaded, stolen handgun fell out of the pants of a 17-year-old boy who had been a backseat passenger in a vehicle pulled over for speeding Sunday.

Shortly after 5:30 p.m. EPD tactical officers witnessed a 2003 gray Honda sedan speeding eastbound on Church Street as it passed Dodge Avenue.

When cops pulled over the car a couple blocks away after it turned left without signaling and sped over speed bumps on the 1700 block of Ashland Avenue, police said they smelled burnt marijuana.

Police said they asked the vehicle's occupants (five men and boys between the ages of 16 and 21) to get out.

As they did, a loaded Smith and Wesson 9 mm handgun fell from the waistband of the sweatpants of one of the teens riding in the back seat, according to Evanston police Commander Joe Dugan.

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Police took the gun and all five occupants back to the station. They said they checked the gun and soon learned it had been reported stolen out of Chicago.

The driver, a 21-year-old Evanston man, was cited for reckless driving, screeching tires and failure to signal. The front seat passenger, another 21-year-old Evanston man was released without charges. All three boys who were in the back seat were cited for failing to wear a seat beat, police said.

Only the 17-year-old Evanston boy faces criminal charges. He was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a stolen firearm, both felonies, as well as two counts of misdemeanor possession of an unlicensed weapon, according to Evanston police.

Top photo: Smith and Wesson 9 mm handgun and ammunition recovered May 7 | Courtesy Evanston Police Department