Bedford Park Cops Find Loaded Guns, Cocaine in Parolee's Car: Prosecutors

BEDFORD PARK, IL -- Bedford Park police found guns and cocaine in a parolee’s car that had been pulled over for striking a curb, prosecutors said. The Chicago man has been placed on an Illinois Department of Corrections hold.

Robert Marquez, 34, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on charges of unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance. He was released on parole last year where he had been serving a concurrent sentence for attempted solicitation for murder, manufacturing and delivery of cocaine and cannabis possession, according to IDOC records. He was arrested June 22.

According the charges, while on routine patrol June 11, police pulled over a vehicle after it had struck the curb. Marquez was said to be driving and there was a front seat passenger. The prosecutor said officers searched the vehicle where they found a black box containing two loaded guns including a 40-caliber Taurus and Jennings handgun, and 47 grams of cocaine. Police found a key to the box on Marquez’s key ring.

Marquez’s attorney said Bedford Park police went further than allowed searching Marquez’s vehicle for a traffic violation. He asked for a photo order to take pictures of the car.

“There was no key to a box,” the attorney said. “There was another passenger in the car.”

Marquez’s attorney said his client’s solicitation for murder attempt happened while his client was in prison on drug charges.

“It was a jailhouse snitch,” the attorney said.

Judge Felice set bail at $150,000. Marquez’s next court hearing is set for July 18 in Bridgeview.

“He has no business with a gun,” the judge said.