Gun charge filed in pursuit where officer was struck by squad car

Police were monitoring a “gang funeral” near the 1800 block of South Drake when they allegedly saw someone toss a gun out of a car.

By David Struett

Neighbors watch as Chicago police investigate in the 1800 block of South Drake after an officer was struck by another police vehicle while pursuing a suspect who had thrown a gun out of a car on the West Side, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2019.

A man is accused of throwing a gun out of a car window Thursday, prompting a pursuit in Lawndale in which a Chicago police officer was struck by another officer’s patrol car.

Daniel Dunbar, 32, of Lawndale, is charged with a felony count of illegal gun possession, Chicago police said.

He was ordered held without bail by Cook County Judge David Navarro, according to court records.

Police were monitoring a “gang funeral” about 1:10 p.m. near the 1800 block of South Drake when they allegedly saw someone toss a gun out of a car, police said in a news conference Thursday.

Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver took off, police said. One of the officers left his squad car and tried to find the car on foot, but was struck by another officer’s squad car in an alley in the 1800 block of South Drake.

The 4 ¹⁄₂ year CPD veteran was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, police said. Two suspects were arrested at the scene.

Police said Friday morning that Dunbar was charged with throwing a gun out the window, and that the second suspect was released without charging.

Dunbar is due to appear in court again Oct. 17.

Chicago police investigate in the 1800 block of South Drake after an officer was struck by another police vehicle while pursuing a suspect who had thrown a gun out of a car on the West Side, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Police officers run northbound in the 1800 block of South Central Park after an officer was struck by another police vehicle while pursuing a suspect who had thrown a gun out of a car on the West Side, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Neighbors watch as Chicago police investigate in the 1800 block of South Central Park after an officer was struck by another police vehicle while pursuing a suspect who had thrown a gun out of a car on the West Side, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Neighbors watch as Chicago police investigate in the 1800 block of South Drake after an officer was struck by another police vehicle while pursuing a suspect who had thrown a gun out of a car on the West Side, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Tire tracks can be seen in the grass after a Chicago police officer was struck by another police vehicle in the 1800 block of South Drake while pursuing a suspect who had thrown a gun out of a car on the West Side, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Police Department Deputy Chief Ernest Cato speaks to reporters after an officer was struck by another police vehicle in the 1800 block of South Drake while pursuing a suspect who had thrown a gun out of a car on the West Side, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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