Prosecutors say a man armed with a loaded gun at Scoop the Loop in Waukegan ran from officers when they were investigating him for touching a child at the event.
Saul A. Cardenas, 21, of Beach Park, was charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, obstructing a peace officer and battery.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said a mother and her child approached police who were standing by at the Scoop the Loop event in Waukegan last Saturday.
The mother reported that a man, later identified as Cardenas, touched her child on the back.
The girl told officers Cardenas was very close to her and touched her back. When she turned around, he saw her face and retreated, McConnell said.
McConnell said officers made contact with Cardenas, who told officers that he was trying to get by the girl and that is why he touched her.
Officers learned Cardenas had an active warrant and Cardenas began running away from them down an alley.
A loaded gun, which was stolen out of Wisconsin, was found in Cardenas’ flight path, McConnell said.
Cardenas does not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification card or concealed carry license.
McConnell said it was “completely reckless” for Cardenas to toss a loaded gun while fleeing at the crowded event, arguing that the gun could have discharged.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted prosecutors’ petition to detain Cardenas pending trial.
“The seriousness of it is bringing a handgun to Scoop the Loop festival where there’s literally hundreds and hundreds, probably thousands of people, down there,” Potkonjak said, agreeing with prosecutors that Cardenas is a danger to the community.
Cardenas was the second person at the Scoop the Loop festival to be arrested for illegally possessing a gun.
Cardenas remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on August 7 for a preliminary hearing.