Ohio Woman Grabbed Mom's Purse With Gun Inside By Mistake: Public Defender

Cornell Rhodes, 25 | Cook County Sheriff

Alsip, IL -- An Ohio woman claimed she grabbed her mother’s purse by mistake that happened to have a gun inside it when police investigated a complaint of pot smoking at an Alsip hotel, prosecutors said.

Cornell Rhodes, 25, appeared before Cook County Associate Judge Peter Felice on a charge of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

According to the charges, police responded to Baymont Inn and Suites, 12801 S, Cicero Ave., Alsip, on July 19, after multiple complaints of the odor of cannabis coming from one of the rooms.

The prosecutor said that Alsip police officers brought a police K9 to the room. The dog immediately zeroed in on the gun found in Rhodes’ purse.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Rhodes was visiting from Ohio, where she is attending college to become a medical assistant.

“She accidentally took her mom’s purse with the gun inside,” the assistant public defender said.

Alsip police said the purse belong to Rhodes.

Rhodes has a previous felony theft conviction from Ohio, the prosecutor said.

Bail was set at $5,000. Rhodes will be allowed to travel to Ohio while her case is pending.

Rhodes is due back in court Aug. 17 in Bridgeview.