A North Chicago man, who is a convicted murderer, was arrested after he allegedly almost hit a police car head-on in Gurnee and was found with a loaded gun, prosecutors said.
Reginald D. Gordon, 45, of North Chicago, was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, driving under the influence, following too close and failing to have a registration plate or decal.
An officer was on patrol on Washington Street just west of O’Plaine Road in Gurnee, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said.
The officer observed a vehicle driving towards them at a high rate of speed and not stopping.
The officer had to swerve into the oncoming lane in order to avoid being hit, Katris said.
Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, which was being driven by Gordon.
Katris said Gordon had an odor of alcohol coming from his breath and bloodshot glassy eyes.
Officers determined Gordon was impaired and unable to operate a motor vehicle so they arrested him.
A search was conducted and a loaded gun was found under the driver’s seat in Gordon’s car.
Gordon does not have a concealed carry license or a Firearm Owner’s Identification card.
He was convicted of first-degree murder in 1998, prosecutors said.
The murder occurred in North Chicago in 1995 when Gordon shot and killed a business owner of a store during a robbery.
Gordon was sentenced to 40 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, which he served at 50% and was released.
Prior to the 1995 murder, Gordon had been sentenced to prison for a residential burglary in North Chicago.
After being released from prison for the murder, Gordon was once again convicted of a new felony for being an armed habitual criminal in 2020.
At the time of his most recent arrest, he was on probation for the armed habitual criminal case.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Gordon held on a $500,000 bond during a bond hearing last week.
Gordon remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $50,000 cash in order to be released.