THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008
Police Charge Oakton Student With Loaded Gun
A 23-year-old Maywood man, who is a student at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon Tuesday after police say they discovered a loaded handgun in his car.
Tristan J. Jones, 1927 S. 12th Ave., Maywood, is scheduled to appear in Skokie court on Monday, May 5 at 9 a.m.
According to police, a Des Plaines officer stopped Jones at Oakton College, 1600 E. Golf Rd., for an alleged safety violation. Moments later, police say they noticed the odor of what seemed to be burnt marijuana in the car and asked Jones if he had anything illegal in the vehicle.
Jones, said police, allegedly admitted to having a gun in the car. Officers recovered the firearm, a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, from the glove compartment.
The weapon had 17 bullets in its magazine, reports said.
Des Plaines Police Deputy Chief Mike Kozak said Jones is a student at the college and has a state-issued Firearm Owners Identification Card. Upon questioning by police, Jones said he had the gun because he is a firearms enthusiast.
Kozak said police recovered the gun and tests will be conducted to see if it has been involved in any crime.
Jones was charged the felony because the firearm was loaded and he was transporting it in his car in an improper manner. He was also charged with tinted front windows of his vehicle.