Justin Spraggins | CPD |
A West Ridge man who is awaiting trial for allegedly carrying a handgun near the scene of an Uptown “shots fired” incident last summer is now charged with possessing a stolen motor vehicle in Edgewater.
Police said a patrol unit randomly checked the license plate of a Ford Fusion as it traveled in the 5700 block of North Sheridan around 2:30 p.m. last Monday. The car was listed as stolen by the police database, so officers pulled the vehicle over and spoke with the driver, 23-year-old Justin Spraggins.
Spraggins had no valid driver’s license, police said, and he voluntarily stated that the car belonged to his grandmother, officers reported. After being taken into custody and read his rights, Spraggins said the vehicle actually belonged to his “Uncle Ronny,” but that “Uncle Ronny” didn’t know that he had it, police said.
As it turns out, the car belonged to a 34-year-old woman (who seems a little young to be the grandmother of a 23-year-old and a bit too female to be “Uncle Ronny.”)
Spraggins was charged with receiving-possessing a stolen motor vehicle. Judge Mary Marubio set bail in the stolen car matter at $5,000. Marubio also revoked Spraggins’ bail in the Uptown gun case.
In that matter, police who responded to calls of shots being fired near the 4400 block of North Racine early last August saw a man run from the scene and get into a black car that sped away with its hazard lights on.
Cops stopped a vehicle matching that description in the 4400 block of North Sheridan after it ran stop signs, according to a police report.
Prosecutors said Spraggins was in the passenger seat of the vehicle and a fully-loaded handgun was in his possession during a pat-down search.
Spraggins was charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Judge David Navarro set bail at $5,000, which allowed him to go free by posting a $500 bond. That bond has now been revoked, and Spraggins is being held without bail at least until his next court hearing.
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