Chicago police make first gun arrest of the year 2 minutes into 2019

The first illegal gun recovery of 2019 happened two minutes into the new year in the West Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side, according to Chicago police.

Darrell Rhyme, 23, was found to be in possession of a stolen gun early Tuesday and was arrested after a brief chase, police said.

At 12:01 a.m., officers who were on a routine patrol pulled Rhyme over for a routine traffic stop in the 6100 block of South Eberhart, police said.

Officers told Rhyme, who was a passenger, to stay in the vehicle but he got out and ran off, police said.

He was taken into custody at 12:02 a.m. after a brief chase and officers found that he had a gun on him that had been stolen.

Rhyme was charged with possession of a stolen firearm at 12:43 a.m., police said.

CPD spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said on Twitter Tuesday morning that Rhyme had also been arrested in June for possession of an illegal gun.

Guglielmi said Rhyme was considered “an armed habitual criminal.”