Chicago police arrested two men for allegedly carrying guns at the Howard CTA station on Thursday afternoon — and they were both wearing electronic monitoring bracelets for pending felony cases. You may remember one of them from a story we published in January.
Two CPD officers went to the Howard station just after noon to conduct a routine “platform check” when they saw a couple of guys they recognized from previous encounters — Victor Costello and Terrell Herbert, according to information from police and prosecutors.
The cops struck up a conversation with Costello, 19, and Herbert, 20, who were leaning forward while sitting on a bench. Assistant State’s Attorney Sean Kelly said the cops suspected the men were leaning forward to hide guns in their waistbands. In fact, one of the officers saw the the magazine of a handgun sticking out of Costello’s waist, according to Kelly.
He said the cops wrapped up their conversation and walked away. Then they asked CTA to hold the trains so they could circle back and take a closer at Costello and Herbert.
Costello tried to get away when the officers returned, but they stopped him and found a loaded 9-millimeter “ghost gun” with an extended magazine and laser sight in his waistband, Kelly said.
They found Herbert sitting on a train, leaning forward in his seat. The officers patted him down and found a loaded 9-millimeter “ghost gun” in his waistband, too, according to Kelly. There were serial numbers on its slide and barrel that belong to a stolen firearm, he alleged.
Prosecutors charged both men with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Kelly said Costello and Herbert were both wearing electronic monitoring bracelets on their ankles when police took them into custody.
Herbert was placed on electronic monitoring in April while awaiting trial for a felony gun case, Judge Mary Marubio said.
In that matter, police officers who responded to a call of a person with a gun on the 6800 block of North Glenwood tried to talk with Herbert because he matched the suspect’s description, prosecutors said. He ran, but cops caught him and found a loaded 9-millimeter handgun with an extended magazine in his waistband along with seven baggies containing ecstasy, according to the allegations.
On Friday, Herbert’s public defender said he is studying to get his GED at Truman College.
We reported on Costello’s pending case in January.
Cops arrested him and four other people inside the Target store parking garage at 6422 North Sheridan after they allegedly bailed out of three stolen cars, two of which were recently hijacked.
Costello was allegedly driving a Jeep that had been reported stolen in Wilmette days earlier. Prosecutors charged him with possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He was serving a five-year probation sentence from Georgia for a cocaine-related offense at the time, prosecutors said.
“I want this young man in the house 24-7, no exceptions,” Judge Susana Ortiz said as she ordered Costello to pay a $1,000 bail bond deposit to go home on electronic monitoring in January.
Costello’s attorney on Friday said he lives with his family in Wilmette, attends temple, studies business at Oakton Community College, and works full time as a UPS package handler.
Judge Mary Marubio held both men in lieu of $250,000 and ordered them to go back on electronic monitoring should they post 10% deposit bonds. But they won’t be able to get out of jail right away. Marubio also ordered them held without bail until they see the judges who are handling their pending felony cases.