Geneva traffic stop leads to loaded shotgun, street gang member arrest

GENEVA – A routine traffic stop led to the arrest of an admitted street gang member and the recovery of loaded 12-gauge shotgun, according to Geneva police reports.

Edgar Lopez, 18, of the 1400 block of Georgia Court, Naperville, is currently being held in the Kane County jail on $55,000 bond, records show.

Lopez was charged July 19 with possession of a firearm by a street gang member in a vehicle, possession of a firearm without a FOID card, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, all felonies, police and court records show.

Lopez was also charged with possession of firearm ammunition without a valid FOID card and possession of alcohol by a minor in public, both misdemeanors.

According to Geneva police reports, a car Lopez was a passenger in a Lexus sport utility vehicle when it was stopped at 8:24 p.m. July 18 in the 1100 block of Peyton Street for speeding 53 miles an hour in a 35 mph zone and failure to signal a turn.

After observing a marijuana cigar and tobacco products next to Lopez, the car’s four occupants told police no one was over the age of 21, reports stated.

The occupants exited the vehicle and when police searched it, they found a black drawstring bag with an open alcohol container and tobacco products in it, the report stated.

In the rear hatch of the vehicle was a large pile of clothing and on top appeared to be a firearm barrel with a maroon sweatshirt wrapped around it in an attempt to conceal it, the report stated.

After the officer unwrapped the sweatshirt, he found a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun. The report described it as a tactical style, pistol-gripped gun with a barrel approximately 18 inches long loaded with one 12-gauge slug in the chamber and five more in the magazine tube.

Police found additional 12-gauge slugs concealed in a pocket of the sweatshirt, the report stated.

The three other occupants of the car told police they did not know Lopez had placed a shotgun in the hatchback of the vehicle, the report stated.

Police confirmed with West Chicago police that Lopez was affiliated with a street gang there, and Lopez also admitted his gang affiliation to police, the report stated.

The most serious charge Lopez faces is possession of a firearm by a street gang member in a vehicle, a Class 2 felony is punishable by four to seven years in prison and fines up to $25,000, if convicted.

Lopez is scheduled to appear in court July 24.