COOK COUNTY, IL – A convicted felon appeared in court today after Sheriff’s Police found him in possession a Glock handgun modified with an illegal “Glock Switch,” two rifles with high-capacity magazines, and more than 130 rounds of ammunition following a traffic stop, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
At around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sheriff’s Police investigators were conducting saturation patrols in the Chicago Police 15th District as part of the Sheriff’s Office’s Chicago Initiative when they learned that a blue Audi Q8 wanted in connection with a burglary was traveling westbound on I-290.
Investigators saw the vehicle exit at Laramie Avenue and followed at a distance until the vehicle stopped in the 5200 block of West Harrison Street. The investigators attempted to execute a traffic stop, but the driver sped away.
Investigators coordinated with Chicago Police helicopter PH1, which maintained visual contact with the Audi as the driver fled, and converged on the Audi when the driver stopped in the 1700 block of South Union Avenue.
The driver, James C. Brewer, 34, of the 5400 block of South Princeton Avenue, attempted to flee on foot while holding a black object in one hand. He was apprehended in the 700 block of West 17th Street after a brief foot chase, and investigators recovered a .45 caliber Glock that had been equipped with a laser and an extended magazine loaded with 28 rounds and one in the chamber. The firearm was also fitted with an illegal auto sear, commonly known as a “Glock Switch,” intended to enable full-automatic fire.
After searching Brewer’s vehicle, investigators also recovered two AR-15 style rifles from the front passenger compartment – one equipped with a drum magazine containing 62 live rounds with one in the chamber, and the other equipped with a 30-round magazine containing 30 live rounds and one in the chamber.
Also recovered was a backpack containing a second drum magazine containing eight live rounds, twelve passports, five identifications cards, ten check books, two social security cards, one bank card, nine uncashed checks, and two folders with birth certificates and financial documentation that appeared to belong to individuals in Oakbrook Terrace.
Brewer was charged with three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon, one count of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, and one count of Driving on a Suspended License.
He appeared for a bond hearing on these charges at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building today, where he was ordered held without bail.
Additionally, Brewer was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant out of Oak Forest for burglary and one outstanding arrest warrant out of Iowa for violation of parole. He was ordered held without bail on the Iowa warrant and was issued a $20,000 Deposit bond for the Oak Forest warrant.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the government in a court of law.
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