Felon With Gun Gives Fake Name, Makes A Run For It: Cops

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A Round Lake Beach man has been charged with having a gun and resisting arrest in connection with an incident last Thursday that began when he was the passenger that Highland Park cops pulled over because the driver was using a cell phone, police said.

The driver, a 25-year-old Mundelein man, was ticketed for the cell phone violation and also charged with driving with a suspended license around 10:30 p.m. after a stop in the 1900 block of Skokie Valley Road, according to police.

But it's the passenger now faces several felonies as a result of the traffic stop.

Christopher Vasquez, 25, of the 0-100 block of West Clarendon Drive in Round Lake Beach, was later identified as the passenger. He appeared to be acting suspiciously inside the vehicle, but he was released from the scene after giving police someone else's name, Deputy Chief Tim Wilinski said.

Police searched the vehicle and found a loaded .45 caliber pistol inside. By that time, Vasquez had left the scene of the traffic stop.

"They searched the area and located him again and that resulted in [a] foot chase," Wilinski said. Vasquez took off running in a brief chase that resulted in an injury to an officer.

Vasquez has been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for not having a concealed carry permit, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for not having a firearms owners identification card, aggravated resisting a peace officer (for the chase that allegedly resulted in an injury to a cop) and obstructing justice (for allegedly giving police a fake name.)

"Once he was actually arrested and charged, his true name was identified," Wilinski said.

Vasquez's next court appearance has been set for Dec. 13 in Waukegan.

_{Top photo: Christopher Vasquez booking photograph | Highland Park PD}