Crime & Courts

Man caught with gun at Bicentennial Park: cops

Officers saw gun when paramedics treated man for possible drug overdose, police said

A Joliet man treated for a possible drug overdose at Bicentennial Park was arrested when officers saw a handgun poking out of his coat pocket, police said.

About 12:44 p.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to the park at 201 W. Jefferson Street to assist paramedics with a man who was “possibly suffering from an overdose,” Joliet police said in a news release.

While paramedics were treating Christopher Garcia, 18, of the first block of Center Street, officers saw a “handgun that was protruding from Garcia’s coat pocket,” police said.

Officers recovered the weapon and ammunition, and Garcia was taken to AMITA Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, police said.

Garcia was sent to jail after he was released from the hospital.

He was arrested on probable cause of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a firearm without a firearm owner’s identification card and possession of ammunition without FOID card.

He was formally charged in court with two charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and a charge of carrying and possessing a firearm.

Garcia’s bond was set at $75,000. He remained in jail as of Friday afternoon.

Felix Sarver

Felix Sarver

Felix Sarver covers crime and courts for The Herald-News