Two guns were recovered and a convicted felon was arrested after he allegedly fled from a serious crash and was chased down by officers in Waukegan Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurred around 4:10 p.m. Thursday near Pacific Avenue and Jackson Street in Waukegan.
A police commander witnessed a two-vehicle crash at the intersection, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelse Banks.
At the same time the crash occurred, officers were down the street in the 900 block of Pacific Avenue conducting a search warrant and arresting a wanted murder suspect.
The crash was caused by a driver who ran the stop sign. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage during the collision.
Police said the collision was serious; however, only minor injuries were reported.
The suspect who caused the crash, Hector R. Perez, 21, of Round Lake, attempted to flee the area, Banks said.
Perez, who was the sole occupant of his car, allegedly returned to his car, exited and again attempted to flee on foot.
Officers told him to stop and Perez was eventually taken into custody, Banks said.
Bank said officers found two handguns on the floorboard of Perez’s vehicle. Both were loaded.
Perez does not have a Firearm Owners Identification card or a concealed carry license.
He also has two prior convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a firearm, Banks said. Perez is currently on parole for a gun charge.
Perez was charged with armed habitual criminal, felon in possession of a firearm, resisting a peace officer, driving without a license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and disregarding a stop sign.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Perez held on a $1 million bond.
Perez remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $100,000 cash in order to be released.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on July 7 for a status of attorney hearing.