CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – Police recovered a loaded gun and arrested a man for unlawful use of a weapon early Saturday morning outside of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.
At about 4:21 a.m. Saturday, a U. of I. police officer was engaged in speed enforcement in the 300 block of University Avenue, Champaign, when he observed a vehicle traveling 55 mph in a 35 mph zone. The officer stopped the vehicle near University Avenue and Neil Street.
As the officer approached the vehicle, he saw an open container of alcohol on the floor and a burnt cannabis cigar in the center console. That prompted police to ask the three occupants of the vehicle to exit so the vehicle could be searched.
Upon searching, police found a loaded handgun underneath the passenger’s seat. The man who had been sitting in that seat, Tramon L. Roper, 18, of Champaign, was arrested for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and was taken to the Champaign County Jail. Roper does not have a firearm owner’s identification or a concealed-carry license.
The driver was cited for speeding and operating an uninsured vehicle.
The Champaign Police Department assisted on the traffic stop, and University Police continue to appreciate the partnership with neighboring agencies.
Under state law, it is illegal to transport a loaded gun that is readily accessible to the occupants of the vehicle. Firearms in cars must be unloaded and kept in an enclosed case.
Please note, those arrested are presumed innocent until proved guilty, and formal charges may change as cases are adjudicated.
