An armed team of police from around the region serving a search warrant on an Evanston home recently recovered a semiautomatic AR-15 assault rifle, ammunition, drugs, and arrested four people, officials said Wednesday.
“Officers received information that there were drugs sales at that location,” Evanston police commander Jay Parrott said.
On Jan. 31 at approximately 10 a.m. investigators from the Evanston police department’s narcotics and gang crimes unit and members of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (N.I.P.A.S.) emergency services team executed a search warrant in the 1700 block of Monroe Street as part of an illegal drug investigation, said Parrott.
He said that in addition to the rifle and ammunition, police also seized approximately 115 grams of cannabis, approximately $900 and items commonly used for packaging cannabis for sale, including plastic baggies and a digital scale.
“The officers had information the weapon was possibly in there. That’s why they used the NIPAS team,” he said. “It’s basically a SWAT team. They’re for a higher level of danger than the norm.”
“A high level of precaution was used when they made their entry, due to the rifle,” Parrott added.
Demetrius D. Mason, 32, of the 17oo block of Monroe Street, is charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of weapon, armed violence, unlawful use of weapon by a felon, as well as other weapons and drugs charges.
Brandon A. Wright, 24, of the same address, is charged with felony unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver and felony unlawful possession of cannabis.
Both Mason and Wright are scheduled for a Feb. 16 hearing at the Skokie courthouse.
Cojuan D. Ruffin, 36, of the 1500 block of Dempster Street in Evanston, was also charged with misdemeanor possession of cannabis, as was Precious S. Jobe, 22, of the 700 block of Dodge Avenue in Evanston.
Parrott said police were especially gratified that the bust allowed them to confiscate a semiautomatic assault rifle and ammunition.
“It’s definitely a priority,” he said. “We don’t want criminals having any type of a weapon at all, especially an assault rifle.”
