Left to Right: Cire Anderson, 19, of Zion; Felice Desilvia, 39, of Chicago; Elijah Gibson, 18, of Gurnee; and Amadubamba Bonner, 18, of Grayslake

Seven suspects were arrested and nine illegally possessed guns were recovered in the past month in Zion as police increase patrols in response to a surge in gun-related crime in the area.

Zion Police Department Lt. Derek Zaloudek said the surge in firearms-related offenses in Zion and surrounding communities is “evident” and “not unique to” the area.

The police department has increased proactive officer patrols and responses to deter the crimes.

“Despite our best efforts though. we can only keep the community as safe as its citizens allow us to through their assistance and vigilance,” Zaloudek said.

“We recognize and appreciate how difficult, and at times how dangerous it can be to speak out and share information with a police department. Yet. as you will see in the final incident detailed here a simple anonymous call from a citizen removed two firearms from irresponsible hands,” Zaloudek said.

The police department said witness names and identifying information are not needed.

“The Zion Police Department looks forward to more citizen participation and assistance in helping to make Zion and the surrounding area a safer place to live, work. and travel through,” Zaloudek said.

Seven recent incidents resulted in seven arrests and nine guns recovered.

Officers were on patrol in the 2700 block of Galilee Avenue around 9:42 a.m. on April 1 amid a recent surge in gunfire in the surrounding neighborhood.

Officers initiated a traffic stop on a gray Dodge sedan for traffic violations and arrested its driver, Clarence Williams, 26, of Chicago, for licensing and insurance violations.

His passenger, Felice Desilvia, 39, of Chicago, was found in possession of a Walther PP Super .380, Zaloudek said.

The handgun, which was chambered with a magazine inserted, was not legally possessed or carried because Desilvia is a convicted felon.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Desilvia with multiple counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Desilvia was ordered held on a $100,000 bond.

Officers were on patrol in the 2700 block of Gideon Avenue around 1:12 a.m. on April 5 due to a recent surge in gunfire in the neighborhood.

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Officers initiated a traffic stop on a silver Nissan sedan for equipment violations and arrested its sole occupant, Adam Dokes. 23, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for licensing and insurance violations.

A SAR USA 19 9mm handgun was observed in the driver’s seat. The handgun, which was chambered with a magazine inserted, was not legally possessed or carried, Zaloudek said.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Dokes with aggravated unlawful use of weapon for not having a concealed carry license.

Dokes was ordered held on a $50,000 bond and released from custody after posting 10% of his bond.

Officers were on patrol in the 2700 block of Sheridan Road around 12:19 a.m. on April 6 and observed two individuals walking in the area. They believed them to be juveniles in violation of curfew.

As the officers approached, the two subjects ran but were eventually detained in the 2800 block of Elisha Avenue.

Officers identified the subjects as Elijah Gibson, 18, of Gurnee, and Amadubamba Bonner, 18, of Grayslake.

Zaloudek said probable cause was developed to search the two and Gibson was found with a Glock 19 Gen 5 9mm handgun, chambered with a magazine inserted. The gun was not legally possessed or carried, Zaloudek said.

A search of Bonner showed he possessed an unserialized Polymer 80 9mm handgun with a laser sight attachment and chambered with no magazine inserted. The gun was not legally possessed or carried, Zaloudek said.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Gibson and Bonner with multiple counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for not having a Firearm Owner’s Identification card or a concealed carry license and for being under 21 years of age.

Both were ordered held on a $150,000 bond each.

Officers on patrol around 5:27 p.m. on April 11 were in the 2700 block of Galilee Avenue when they conducted a traffic stop on a gold Buick sedan for registration violations.

The driver, a 22-year-old Zion man, was arrested for licensing violations.

Officers searched the Buick and the passenger, a 23-year-old Kenosha, Wisconsin, man.

A Glock 43 handgun, chambered with an additional nine rounds in the magazine, was recovered from the Buick. The passenger from Kenosha was arrested as well.

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The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office declined to charge either occupant of the Buick with a firearms offense pending further investigation.

Zaloudek said warrants will be sought for the suspects pending the results of the investigation as well as forensic laboratory results.

Officers on patrol in the 2900 block of Gilead Avenue around 7:40 p.m. Wednesday stopped a black Cadillac SUV for equipment violations.

The Cadillac and its two occupants were searched.

A search of the passenger, Lazarius Geater, 19, of Zion, revealed a Springfield 9mm handgun.

The handgun was chambered and its magazine held an additional 13 rounds of ammunition. The gun was not legally possessed or carried, Zaloudek said.

As officers were securing Geater, the driver ran back to the Cadillac and fled at a high rate of speed.

Geater began physically resisting efforts to seat him in a marked police vehicle and trying to prevent officers from securing him, which allowed the driver to escape without being pursued, Zaloudek said.

The driver was identified before they fled and warrants are being sought for their arrest.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Geater with multiple counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for not having a Firearm Owner’s Identification card or a concealed carry license, along with being under 21 years of age.

Geater was also charged with a misdemeanor count of obstructing a peace officer.

He was released from the Lake County Jail after posting 10% of a $200,000 bond.

Officers on patrol in the 3000 block of Gilead Avenue around 4:23 p.m. on April 18 initiated a pedestrian stop on two juveniles after seeing them walking in the middle of the roadway obstructing traffic.

The officers also noticed one of the juveniles, a 17-year-old Zion boy, was adjusting an object within his waistband when they attempted to speak to him.

Both juveniles fled and officers were able to catch one of them.

The juvenile threw a Glock 17L 9mm handgun from his waistband being restrained and arrested, Zaloudek said.

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The handgun was chambered and had an extended magazine that held an additional 30 rounds of ammunition.

The 17-year-old was charged with multiple counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for not having a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card and for being under 21 years of age.

The juvenile was also charged with a misdemeanor count of obstructing a peace officer.

He was transported to the Robert W. Depke Juvenile Complex Center.

An anonymous citizen called the Zion Police Department around 2:56 p.m. on May 3 after spotting three males in the area of 21st Street and Joppa Avenue. One of the subjects was reported to be armed.

Officers responded and located the three subjects and the suspects fled through the neighborhood.

Officers were able to arrest Cire Anderson, 19, of Zion, and located in his possession a green and black Palmetto PA-15 .223 AR pistol.

The AR pistol was chambered and Anderson also possessed a 30-round magazine and a 60-round magazine with 49 total rounds of ammunition, Zaloudek said.

The weapon was not legally possessed or carried and officers transported Anderson to the Zion Police Department.

Officers were able to arrest the other two males, a 16-year-old juvenile and an 18-year-old after brief pursuits and hold them under investigation. They were ultimately not charged with a criminal offense and released.

An alert homeowner called the police department a short time later to report he found a Smith and Wesson SD40 VE .40 handgun in his backyard on Joanna Avenue, which was along the flight path of one of the other two males arrested and released.

Officers collected the handgun and an investigation to determine if it was previously possessed by any of the subjects is ongoing.

Anderson was charged with multiple counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for not having a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card or a concealed carry license, along with being under 21 years of age.

Anderson was also charged with a misdemeanor count of obstructing a peace officer.

He was ordered held on a $50,000 bond.