Chicago — Cook County sheriff’s police found a trove of guns, ammunition, and potential identity theft materials when they pulled a car over in Chicago that was wanted in connection with a suburban burglary, officials said.
The car’s driver, James Brewer, 34, faces a host of felony charges. Judge Barbara Dawkins held him without bail at the state’s request.
Sheriff’s police on patrol in the Austin (15th) District saw an Audi Q8 wanted in connection with an Oak Forest burglary and tried to pull it over around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office. Brewer sped away, but additional resources were brought in to find him, including a Chicago police helicopter, which kept an eye on the car until it stopped in the 1700 block of South Union, near the Dan Ryan Expressway and 18th Street.
Brewer tried to run away while holding something in his hand, the sheriff’s office said, but officers arrested him after a foot chase. The cops also allegedly recovered a loaded Glock handgun equipped with a 28-round ammunition magazine and a switch that allows it to fire several rounds with one trigger pull.
But the real treasure was inside the Audi.
Officials said they found two AR-15-style rifles in the front passenger section, one with a drum magazine containing 62 rounds. The other was fitted with a fully-loaded 30-round magazine.
A backpack allegedly containing a second drum magazine, 12 passports, five ID cards, ten checkbooks, two social security cards, uncashed checks, and two folders containing birth certificates and financial information of Oakbrook Terrace residents was also found.
Prosecutors charged Brewer with three counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, aggravated fleeing and eluding, and driving on a suspended license.
In addition to being held without bail on those charged, Brewer is held without bail on an Iowa arrest warrant. Bail for the Oak Forest burglary warrant was set at $20,000.
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