Police: Joliet teen had TEC-9 pistol in open duffle bag

JOLIET – An alleged teenage gang member was apparently caught by police possessing a TEC-9 semiautomatic pistol inside a duffle bag while hanging out with other people and drinking beer, authorities said.

About 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, a 17-year-old boy was arrested on charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, defacing a identification mark on a firearm, unlawful possession of a weapon by gang member and unlawful possession of alcohol by a minor.

Joliet tactical police officers were conducting surveillance in the 500 block of Benton Street when they saw several people hanging around a parked Dodge Durango while drinking Modelo beer, Joliet Deputy Police Chief Ed Gregory said in an email.

The people were seen several times entering and exiting the vehicle with beer, Gregory said. The tactical officers walked closer to the vehicle and the people reportedly began to walk away.

A police sergeant looked into the car and saw a “black machine gun style” handgun in an open duffle bag, Gregory said. The gun was a TEC-9 and the serial number on the frame appeared to have been destroyed, he said.

Officers began an investigation which revealed that a 17-year-old boy had been in possession of the duffle bag, Gregory said. After the teen was arrested, he was taken to River Valley Juvenile Detention Center.

Other men who were at the scene also were charged. Claudio Lopez, 19, of Joliet and a 14-year-old boy were charged with unlawful possession of alcohol by minor. Raul Arias III, 22, of Joliet was charged with liquor on a public way. They were all released on their own recognizance.

Gregory said the Dodge Durango was towed because it had open alcohol inside.