Two arrested, guns recovered in separate incidents in Evanston

Two people have been arrested after Evanston police officers recovered loaded guns during two separate incidents this week in the northern suburb.

About 6:55 p.m. Wednesday, members of the police tactical unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle containing four people in the 1800 block of Dodge Avenue, according to a statement from Evanston police.

A 16-year-old boy in the back seat got out and dropped a loaded Para Ordnance .45 caliber handgun, police said.

The boy, a resident of Evanston, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon in a public way and unlawful use of a weapon while being younger than 18, both felonies, police said. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of no valid FOID card and a citation for failure to wear a safety belt. He has been transported to the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center.

About 12:05 a.m. Thursday, patrol officers spotted people in Beck Park, 2428 Emerson St., after closing hours, police said. They approached the group and 18-year-old Dijon N. Caffie ran away northbound.

While an officer chased Caffie, the officer saw him reach into his waistband and bend over as he was running, police said. The officer caught up with Caffie in the 2300 block of Foster Street and Caffie then “turned and squared up with officer.”

The officer used his Taser, “which had an immediate affect on Caffie and the officer was able to take him into custody,” police said. A loaded Sar Arms 9mm handgun was eventually found in the area where Caffie bent over.

Caffie, of the 7400 block of North Damen, faces a misdemeanor count of resisting a peace officer and city ordinance violations of being in a park after hours and disobedience to the police in public, police said. The handgun has been sent to the crime laboratory for further analysis.