Another Gun Taken Off Joliet's Streets, Motorist, 54, Jailed: JPD

JOLIET, IL — A 54-year-old Plainfield area man remains in the Will County Jail with a $100,000 bail after Joliet police say Vincent Hampton was driving through the city with open alcohol and his sports utility vehicle smelled of marijuana. Following the traffic stop, Joliet police say they recovered a loaded gun inside the vehicle.

Hampton has been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a convicted felon, unlawful possession of a gun, armed habitual criminal, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon and having no FOID card.

Around 11 p.m. Tuesday, Hampton's Dodge Charger was stopped for expired vehicle registration near McDonough and Railroad Streets.

Joliet Police spokesman Dwayne English said the officers smelled marijuana from the interior of the vehicle, and they saw an open alcohol container.

Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and recovered a loaded handgun from the glove box, English said. Hampton's marijuana stash was also confiscated, police reports show.

In addition to all the felonies, Hampton was cited for unlawful possession of cannabis by driver, illegal transportation of alcohol by driver, driving without rear registration light and expired Registration. Joliet police had Hampton's SUV towed away from the arrest scene.

Hampton comes from the 1800 block of Great Falls Drive, that's in the Cumberland subdivision off County Line Road.