A Flossmoor man is facing a felony weapons charge after allegedly taking a handgun from his family’s home, police said.
Martell Harris, 22, of the 3000 block of MacHeath Crescent, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon following his arrest at the Flossmoor Metra station, according to a police report.
The arrest took place at 10:39 p.m. on July 15. Earlier that evening, police said, Harris had an argument with another family member about damage to a liquor cabinet in the home. During the argument, the handgun – which was concealed in Harris’s pants – fell onto the floor, the report said. The other family member recognized the gun as his weapon; he has an Illinois Firearm Owner Identification card (FOID) and concealed carry license.
After the other family member asked about the gun, Harris picked it up and ran out of the house, the report said. The family called police and told them that Harris, who does not have a car, might have headed toward the Metra station to catch a train to Chicago, where he has relatives.
When two police officers arrived at the station, they saw Harris, who was laying down on the platform. They asked if he had a gun. He responded in the affirmative and took the weapon, a 7.35 mm Reck semiautomatic, from the waistband of his pants and gave it to the police. It was loaded with seven bullets and had not been fired.
At the police station, Harris admitted taking the handgun, the report said. Harris said he had found the gun in the house. After running from the house, Harris said, he threw the gun into the yard but decided to retrieve the weapon because it would have been too dangerous to leave it there, according to the report.
Harris appeared July 16 in the Sixth District Cook County courthouse in Markham. A spokesman for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office said he was released that day on a $10,000 I-bond with a recommendation that he receive pre-trial counseling. His next court date is Aug. 13.