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.