Searches in Waukegan yield six illegal guns, one arrest

By Chris Brenner
Staff Writer

August 20, 2000

WAUKEGAN — Police agencies seized six illegal firearms this week in two residences, arrested one man and are seeking at least one other suspect, authorities said.  

On Thursday, officers from the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group and the Waukegan Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence of a known gang member in the 2300 block of Chinook Road.  

On Tuesday, the Waukegan Police Department Neighborhood Enforcement Team seized two guns in a garage in the 500 block of South Avenue and arrested one man, according to Sgt. Jon Oliver, commander of the team.   

During the search of the home on Chinook Road, officers found four firearms: a sawed-off shotgun, an assault rifle, a rifle and a pistol described as a "Saturday night special," said Terry Lemming of the Lake County MEG.  Owners of the weapons were not at home at the time of the search. One person is being sought by police. There may be others as evidence is developed, Lemming said. Criminal charges are pending.  "None of the weapons seized has any practical sporting or target shooting applicability," said Master Sgt. Mark Piccoli, deputy director of Lake County MEG. "These guns, especially the shotgun and assault rifle, typify the types of weapons sought by gang members for use in criminal activities."  Oliver said the gun seizure on South Avenue resulted from a tip to police that a street gang was hiding weapons in the garage there.  The homeowner, David Harris, 64, gave written permission for police to search the garage, Oliver said.   Harris was later arrested on gun charges after police found a sawed-off shotgun and a semiautomatic 9 mm handgun in the garage.  Harris was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and failure to have a firearm's owner identification card, Oliver said.