Chicago police say they found a stolen handgun, several magazines, and nearly 100 rounds of ammunition when they stopped a south suburban Lansing man near Clark and Elm streets.
But, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office refused to pursue felony charges against the man, citing “insufficient evidence” that he knew that the firearm was stolen, according to a police source.
Police stopped 23-year-old Tarik D. Coleman outside of Table 52 restaurant around 3:40 a.m. on January 26 because the Mercedes he was riding in had expired plates, according to court records.
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| Coleman | Chicago Police Dept |
Cops say Coleman removed a Glock 27 .40-caliber handgun from under his seat during the stop.
Coleman was detained, and police reportedly found a 9-millimeter handgun in the vehicle’s glove compartment.
“Those guns are mine. The Glock and the nine. I bought them at Cabela’s in Indiana,” Coleman allegedly told police. “Don’t put them on anyone.”
An investigation found that the 9-millimeter had been reported stolen from Mooresville, Indiana. Coleman changed his story to say that he bought the stolen gun “on the street from some guy in Chicago Heights,” police said.
He also changed his story about the Glock, saying that he actually bought it from a store near Brookfield Zoo, according to cops.
The vehicle search also turned up six magazines for the guns; five 9-mm rounds; 63 .40-caliber rounds; 26 .45-caliber rounds; and two 20-gauge shotguns shells, according to police inventory records.
After felony charges were declined, Coleman was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and released on a $1,500 recognizance bond.
According to court records, Coleman has a valid Firearms Owner Identification Card, but he does not have a concealed carry license.
