A Fox Lake man and convicted felon ran away from officers who responded to the Walmart in Waukegan for a man armed with a loaded gun, officials said.
The Waukegan Police Department responded on September 18 to Walmart, 3900 Fountain Square Place in Waukegan, for a report of an armed subject.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said security called 911 and directed officers to the person with a gun.
Thomas A. Brown, 31, of Fox Lake, was observed to have a bulge in his waistband.
Brown ran away from officers and a foot pursuit ensued, McConnell said.
McConnell said Brown ran across the street to a metal donation bin where he was believed to have ditched the gun as the officers heard a loud bang.
Officers arrested Brown and found a gun in plain sight in the donation bin, McConnell said.
Brown is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms. He was charged with felon in possession of a weapon, a Class 2 felony.
Court records show Brown has multiple pending criminal cases in Lake County.
He also had multiple active warrants for failing to appear in those cases.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain and petitions to revoke his pre-trial release following his arrest.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim ordered Brown held in the Lake County Jail until a detention hearing, which was scheduled for last Friday.
The hearing was delayed and continued to Thursday, at which point it was delayed again as Brown works to hire a private attorney.
The detention hearing is scheduled for Friday afternoon.