Chicago — Chicago police who executed a search warrant in Humboldt Park allegedly found a man who works full time as a violence interrupter naked under a bed with $50,000 cash on the floor, suspected narcotics in the room, and a gun on the kitchen window sill, officials said.
Jerel Taylor, 30, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, possession of heroin, and possession of a controlled substance in the wake of the Friday morning search warrant execution in Humboldt Park. Judge Mary Marubio ordered him to pay $500 toward bail to get out of jail.
Chicago police raided the apartment in the 1100 block of North Avers around 8 a.m. and found the loaded pistol on the kitchen window ledge next to bags of suspected crack cocaine before making their way to a nearby bedroom, prosecutors said during Taylor’s bail hearing.
A woman seated on the bed told officers there was no one else in the room, but cops allegedly saw Taylor’s feet sticking out from under the bed and “removed him,” according to prosecutors. Prosecutors added that $50,000 in cash was also on the floor.
Because Taylor was naked, officers asked him where his clothes were, and they allegedly found suspected heroin next to his pants. More crack was allegedly found on a bedside table, along with Taylor’s driver’s license.
Taylor’s record includes five felony convictions for narcotics-related offenses since 2018, according to prosecutors.
His attorney said he lives in the home with his mom, sister, and brother, so he may not be responsible for the items the police said they found in the apartment.
Taylor is a high school graduate who works full time for a safe street patrol in Humboldt Park, the lawyer said, adding that he also works for the CeaseFire anti-violence group.
He is scheduled to be in court again on Friday.
