A 21-year-old man faces weapon and drug charges after police caught him trying to hide a loaded gun under the front seat of a car in north suburban Evanston, police said.
About 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Evanston Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team officers were in the 7700 block of Paulina Street when they drove by a parked vehicle with two men inside, according to Evanston police.
The driver, William A. Pickering, was rolling a marijuana cigar when officers approached, police said. He then bent forward and reached his hand under the seat.
After the men got out of the car, the officers found a Glock .40-caliber handgun under the seat, police said. It had an extended 22-round-capacity magazine loaded with 18 rounds.
Both men were taken to the police department, police said.
Pickering, of Evanston, was charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and one count of possession of marijuana. The 25-year-old was released without charges, police said.
Bond was set at $150,000 Friday for Pickering, who posted the required $15,000 and was released, court records show. He is due back in court on June 14.
The Glock .40 caliber handgun recovered from the vehicle William A. Pickering was in Wednesday in the 7700 block of Paulina Street. Evanston Police
