A 22-year-old man was released after police say he led officers on a vehicle pursuit, resisted arrest and then was found with a loaded gun while wearing a “rebel life” shirt in Zion Monday evening.
Officers with the Zion Police Department were on patrol around 11:18 p.m. Monday in the area of Lewis Avenue and 13th Street in Zion.
Zion Police Department Lt. Derek Zaloudek said officers observed a black 2024 Hyundai Genesis disregard a stop sign as it turned southbound onto Lewis Avenue from 13th Street.
The driver, Lorenzo L. Taylor, 22, of Winthrop Harbor, failed to stop when officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Zaloudek said.
Officers pursued the Genesis before Taylor parked the vehicle in the 2100 block of Bethesda Boulevard.
Taylor exited the Genesis and attempted to walk away, leading to a brief struggle with officers before he was detained in handcuffs, Zaloudek said.
Officers noted that Taylor smelled like alcohol, was experiencing difficulty balancing and was slurring his words.
Zaloudek said officers found open alcohol, a small amount of cannabis and a loaded and chambered SCCY 9mm handgun inside the Genesis.
Taylor does not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification card. He also refused all field sobriety testing and chemical testing following his arrest and has two prior convictions for driving under the influence.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Taylor with aggravated driving under the influence third or subsequent offense, two counts of aggravated driving under the influence while license revoked for DUI, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, driving under the influence and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.
He was also issued several traffic citations.
Taylor was processed at the Zion Police Department where he was seen in a booking photo wearing a “rebel life” t-shirt.
He was later transported to the Lake County Jail in Waukegan and held for a First Appearance Court hearing.
Taylor was released from custody at the Tuesday morning hearing since none of the charges are detainable under the Illinois SAFE-T Act.
Lake County Judge Helen Rozenberg placed Taylor on pre-trial conditions and called it “outrageous” that she was forced to release him.
“I’m confined by the law, so you’re going to be released on your signature. Not because I think it’s a good idea but because I don’t have a choice,” Rozenberg told Taylor in court.
Taylor is scheduled to appear in court again on December 1 for a status of attorney hearing.