Couple Accused Of Passing Gun Outside Gentleman's Club

BEDFORD PARK, IL — A couple accused of disobeying police orders to put their guns down saw their bail increased by a suburban judge who did not think the bond set at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building “reflected the seriousness of the offense.” Luis Gonzalez, 36, and Jarizyarem Rodriguez, 37, both of Chicago, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on felony charges of unlawful use of a weapon. Both were taken into custody.

While on routine patrol Oct. 12, Bedford Park police saw two people squared off for a fight in front of the Ocean Gentleman’s Club at 5555 70th Place. A third man, later identified as Gonzalez, was standing to the side with a gun drawn, the prosecutor said. Gonzalez saw the police officer, and allegedly handed his gun to a woman, later identified as Rodriguez.

The prosecutor said Rodriguez was ordered to get on the ground by police. Rodriguez allegedly disobeyed the officer’s order, and tossed the gun under a car. Police found the loaded 9mm handgun.

Gonzalez has three felony convictions, including a federal drug case. Gonzalez is currently on electronic monitoring following an appearance in weekend bond court Oct. 13 at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building at 26th and California, where his bail had been set at $30,000.

"These are bad facts, pointing a gun at someone else," Mahoney said, increasing bail to $100,000. "You shouldn't have a gun at all and it shouldn't be loaded."

Rodriguez was free on a $5,000 I-bond with pretrial reporting. The prosecutor said she and Gonzalez share children together. The judge increased her bail to $50,000.

"The officer asked you to put the gun down and you didn't," Mahoney said. "You could have gotten shot."

Gonzalez and Rodriguez' attorney asked the judge to consider his clients' respective bail amounts.

"The bonds that come out of 26th and California that in no way reflect the seriousness of the offense," Mahoney said. "They're screaming about guns. This is the way I see it."

Both are due back in court Nov. 8 in Bridgeview.