A driver who was arrested near the Field Museum on Saturday night for allegedly having a gun in his car and obstructing his vehicle’s rear license plate is a Chicago Police Department recruit, according to CPD sources. Prosecutors said the man “became verbally aggressive” with police during the incident, so they arrested him.
The police department on Sunday could not confirm the man’s status as a trainee because its human resources office was closed for the holiday weekend.
Police arrested the man just after 11 p.m. on the 400 block of East McFetridge Drive. That’s the street that runs between the Field Museum and Soldier Field.
Patrol officers saw Davin Jones, 27, hiding his car’s rear license plate with a sweatshirt while it was illegally parked outside the Field Museum, according to information from prosecutors and CPD.
“The clothing was removed [from the license plate] at which time a verbal altercation ensued between Jones and the officers,” a CPD spokesperson said.
Cops took Jones into custody and subsequently found a loaded 40-caliber handgun inside his car’s glove box, said prosecutors, who added that Jones does not have a concealed carry license.
They charged Jones with misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor modification of a registration plate. He also received traffic citations, police said.
During Jones’ bail hearing on Sunday afternoon, Judge Mary Marubio said she was concerned that “there’s some kind of attempt to avoid arrest and prosecution” by covering the plate “so police would be hindered in their investigation.”
“The lack of cooperation is a concern … The attempt to hinder the investigation is a concern,” the judge said. She then set bail at $1,500. Jones will go home after posting a $150 deposit.
Neither CPD nor prosecutors explained why they believed Jones was covering his license plate.
Caravans of drivers often converge on the downtown area at night during the weekends. Those drivers sometimes cover, remove, or alter their license plates so city cameras and license plate readers cannot identify the vehicles’ owners.
Editor’s note: The Chicago Police Department delays the release of misdemeanor mugshots for four days.
