Police responding to a call of teenagers prowling around residences in Zion led to the suspects fleeing officers and one of the suspects running so hard he threw up onto his gun.
The Zion Police Department responded around 3:07 p.m. last Sunday to the area of 24th Street and Galilee Avenue for a suspicious persons call.
Zion Police Department Lt. Derek Zaloudek said residents called 911 to report three teenage males were prowling around homes. At least one of them was armed with a handgun.
Officers arrived in the area and detained one of the subjects for investigation, Zaloudek said. The two others fled on foot.
An alert resident approximately 15 minutes later reported a person hiding in their shed in the 2300 block of Hebron Avenue.
Zaloudek said officers responded, located Gavin Butler-Johnson, 18, of Waukegan, and arrested him.
Zaloudek said Butler-Johnson was found in possession of a loaded Springfield Armory 1911 .45 handgun reported stolen out of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said vomit was found on the gun.
Butler-Johnson admitted to running from police moments earlier and said he ran so hard he vomited.
Katris said Butler-Johnson is on pre-trial release for a pending petition to revoke probation in a prior case where he was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in Lake County last year.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges of three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Prosecutors filed a petition to detain Butler-Johnson pending trial, calling him a real and present danger. They also sought to revoke his pre-trial release for the case he is on probation for.
Attorney Gregory Nikitas said his client denies possessing the gun but does admit to running from officers.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted the two petitions last week and remanded Butler-Johnson to the Lake County Jail.