A man from Wheeling is facing charges for unlawful possession of a weapon after Evanston police conducted a traffic stop on Emerson Street May 29, according to the Evanston Police Department.
Diego T. Castillo, 23, of the 200 block of Brougham, Wheeling, has since been charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office with one Class 4 felony count of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, police said.
Evanston Police Department Special Operations Group (SOG) conducted the traffic stop at approximately 10:05 p.m. on the 1100 block of Emerson Street after witnessing Castillo commit “multiple traffic violations” on May 29, the news release said.
Detectives then smelled a “strong odor of burnt cannabis emanating from the vehicle,” police said.
Castillo reportedly told police he had smoked cannabis earlier in the day and that the cannabis was still inside his vehicle, according to the news release.
Upon exiting his vehicle, detectives recovered a loaded Glock 19, 9mm handgun concealed on his body, with an extended magazine containing 18 rounds of ammunition, with one round chambered.
Detectives subsequently determined Castillo did not possess a valid Illinois Concealed Carry License (CCL), the news release said.
Castillo was later taken into custody without incident at the Evanston Police Department.
His pretrial hearing was held in Room 105 at the Skokie Courthouse, 5600 Old Orchard Road, at 1:30 p.m. on June 2.
Castillo was released pending future court proceedings following the hearing, according to police.
An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
