Newly-minted Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson had been in office less than 12 hours when his security detail arrested a man for illegal gun possession near the mayor’s inaugural ball Monday evening. And, in retrospect, the man who got arrested probably wishes he had simply moved his car as the police requested.
Prosecutors said Chicago cops assigned to the mayor’s detail were parked in the 1200 block of South Halsted while Johnson and his supporters celebrated the People’s Ball inside the UIC Dorin Forum on Monday evening.
Just before 8 p.m., a black Chrysler 300 double-parked in front of the officers’ car, and Trevon Lucas, 22, stepped out of the driver’s seat, prosecutors said Tuesday. An officer explained to Lucas that he needed to move his car. But, rather than moving it, Lucas told the cop that he’d have his brother, who was seated inside the Chrysler, move it for him, according to prosecutors.
As officers approached the Chrysler, they noticed a loaded 9-millimeter handgun sitting on the driver’s seat, prosecutors said. They asked Lucas’ brother to step out of the car and placed Lucas in custody.
During his bail hearing yesterday, Lucas’ public defender said he has one child and works as a forklift operator. He’s never been arrested before, the lawyer said.
He’s charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and obstructing traffic.
Judge Kelly McCarthy ordered him to pay a $300 bail deposit to get out of jail.
Chicago police officers assigned to former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s detail had their share of gun-related incidents, although not on her inauguration day.
Last April, Lightfoot’s detail arrested a Wisconsin man after they noticed a gun-shaped outline in his crossbody bag as they waited in line at Shake Shack, 14 South Michigan.
In November, officers assigned to Lightfoot’s detail saw an armed robbery unfolding near their Logan Square headquarters and exchanged gunfire with one of the offenders, officials said. No one was injured, and no arrests have been made. That incident was caught on camera: