Police officers arrested a Waukegan man after they found him and a second man, who were reportedly working for DoorDash, wearing ski masks while armed with a loaded gun in Zion.
The Zion Police Department conducted a traffic stop around 2:34 a.m. Sunday on a gray 2012 Honda CR-V.
The Honda was stopped near 21st Street and Gilead Avenue after officers observed it commit traffic offenses, according to Zion Police Department Lt. Derek Zaloudek.
The driver was identified as Henry Valladares-Osorto, 22, of Waukegan, and a 22-year-old North Chicago man was in the passenger seat.
Both men were masked with balaclavas and told officers they were fulfilling DoorDash orders, Zaloudek said.
Valladares-Osorto’s driver’s license was suspended and officers explained to him that he was not allowed to be driving.
The passenger was going to take possession of the Honda and began moving belongings to find his driver’s license and hand it over to officers, Zaloudek said.
While moving the belongings, a handgun was inadvertently revealed to officers on one of the rear seats, Zaloudek said.
Both occupants were arrested because neither possessed a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card or concealed carry license.
Officers searched the Honda following the arrests and found a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun under the driver’s seat, Zaloudek said.
The handgun first seen in the rear seat was later determined to be a replica gun. The passenger was released without charges.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Valladares-Osorto with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, driving on a suspended license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and expired registration.
A public defender representing Valladares-Osorto said his client was working with the other male fulfilling DoorDash orders at the time of the stop.
The attorney said Valladares-Osorto did not know the gun was under the seat and that two other people drive the car, which is owned by Valladares-Osorto.
In September 2022, Valladares-Osorto was charged with the same offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon following an arrest in Highland Park. The charges were eventually dismissed.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Valladares-Osorto in jail pending trial, calling him a threat to the community.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted the petition and remanded Valladares-Osorto to the Lake County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 21.