Chicago police continue to seize a significant number of illegal firearms near the Magnificent Mile, including one that was reportedly stolen from a Chicago police officer.
In December, cops arrested about one person a day for allegedly having illegal guns on or near the famed retail and hotel corridor. At least 20 more gun arrests were made in the area during January.
And February got off to a rip-roaring start with another gun seized Monday.
Officers who tried to pull Latrell McKinzie over for a seatbelt violation on the 100 block of East Oak around 4:20 p.m. saw the 28-year-old making movements toward his floorboard, Assistant State’s Attorney Andrea Williams said.
When cops asked McKinzie to step out of his car, he punched one officer in the face and ran, Williams alleged.
Police chased after McKinzie and had to taze him twice to get him into custody, she said. Officers said they found a loaded 9-millimeter handgun under his driver’s seat.
McKinzie is charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and aggravated battery of a police officer. The cop did not require treatment for injuries, Williams said.
McKinzie’s private defense attorney, Steven Goldman, said he is a maintenance worker for the CTA.
Judge John Lyke set McKinzie’s bail at $100,000 and ordered him to go onto electronic monitoring if he can post the mandatory $10,000 deposit bond.
Among the weapons seized near the Magnificent Mile during January was one that had been reported stolen by a Chicago cop, according to prosecutors.
Police pulled 37-year-old Rodney Beathea over for a traffic violation on the first block of East Chicago Avenue around 4 p.m. on January 12, prosecutors said.
When he could not produce a driver’s license, cops asked him to step out of the vehicle, and he told them “there might be a firearm in the vehicle,” an assistant state’s attorney alleged.
Cops said they found an officer’s stolen handgun in the center console of Beathea’s car.
Prosecutors said Beathea has six felony convictions and the state plans to upgrade his charges from unlawful use of a weapon to Class X armed habitual criminal.
Judge Charles Beach set his bail at $15,000 and ordered him to go onto electronic monitoring if he posts a 10% deposit.