Drinking in vehicle leads to drug, gun charges against 2 men

Two men were charged after police say they found a gun and marijuana in a vehicle in north suburban Evanston early Sunday.

Rodshawn B. Ruffin and Antonio D. Sanders, both 24, were sitting in a vehicle in the 1700 block of Emerson Street about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, according to a statement from Evanston police. Officers could see one of the men drinking from a bottle of alcohol and could smell unburnt marijuana as they walked up to the vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, police found a loaded Colt .357 revolver under the front passenger seat, police said.

Ruffin, of Hoffman Estates, was charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, police said. He also faces misdemeanor charges of unlawful possession of a firearm without a FOID card and unlawful possession of ammunition without a FOID card. Police also said he violated a city ordinance that prohibits drinking alcohol in a vehicle parked on public property.

Sanders, of Evanston, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and not having a valid driver’s license, both misdemeanors, police said.

Court information for the two was not immediately available.