Nine people were detained and eight guns were seized, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition, during a search warrant in Waukegan as part of an investigation, police announced.
The Zion Police Department said their Street Crime Unit (SCU) began on November 16 devoting “countless hours conducting follow-ups, compiling data and sifting through evidence” into numerous subjects.
The investigation began as a result of a recent violent crime.
Search warrants and arrest warrants were obtained and a multifaceted operation was planned to take the offenders into custody, police said.
The investigation led detectives to a house near Atlantic Avenue and Linden Avenue in Waukegan where several of the “principal targets” were observed.
Police said those involved had a violent weapons-related history and some were connected to the Maniac Latin Disciple street gang.
The Northern Illinois Police Alarm System Emergency Service Team (EST) was called to assist in serving the warrants.
Four people fled from the house and attempted to escape in a vehicle when the EST and officers arrived Monday evening.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigation Group (SIG) and the Waukegan Police Department assisted Zion and the EST in apprehending the four subjects.
Three firearms were recovered along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
The Atlantic Avenue residence in Waukegan was secured and five additional subjects were detained, police said.
A search of the house yielded five more firearms, ammunition, powdered cocaine, cannabis, gang indicia and burglary proceeds.
Anthony Gallegos, 21, of Waukegan, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.
Ricardo Cruz, 36, of Waukegan, was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Gregorio Gomez, 33, of Waukegan, was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. A parole violation warrant was also issued for him.
Arian Vazquez, 19, of Zion, was arrested on a warrant for aggravated domestic battery and forgery.
Carlos Colon, 22, of Zion, was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition.
The four other subjects detained during the operation were released without charges.
Additional charges are pending laboratory and forensic digital analysis, police said.
“The Zion Police Department wishes to thank the supporting agencies who assisted in bringing this case to a successful resolution without loss of life or injury,” the department said in a statement.