Cops: Evanston man had loaded shotgun in his backpack

Police in north suburban Evanston arrested a 20-year-old man with a loaded shotgun in his backpack Tuesday.

Hari Lele was on a sidewalk about 10:45 a.m. in the 900 block of Greenleaf Street with a green backpack when an officer spotted him, according to Evanston police. The backpack was stretched out due to an object inside.

Once Lele saw the officer — who was familiar with Lele as part of a nearby drug investigation — he stopped and started walking the other way, police said.

The officer then drove toward Lee, stopped him and saw the 12-gauge shotgun, police said.

Lele, of the 1200 block of Forest Avenue, was charged with 1 count of unlawful use of a weapon and 1 count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.