Joliet man accused of carrying gun stolen from Mississippi: cops

A man was arrested Thursday in Joliet and accused of carrying a loaded 9 mm handgun that was reported stolen from Mississippi, police said.

Officers found Steven Brown, 30, of Joliet, was carrying the gun in a bag while walking with Devarrius Thompson, 27, of Joliet, in the 300 block of Bluff Street, Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English said.

Both men were arrested after officers found a large amount of a marijuana and drug packaging material in the trunk of the vehicle they had just entered when police tried to question them, English said.

The two men have been booked into the Will County jail. Bond has not yet been set.

At 12:40 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to Riverwalk Homes on Bluff Street for a report of a man possibly armed with a gun, English said.

When officers arrived, they saw two men, and one of them had matched the description they were given of the armed suspect, English said.

The officers tried to speak to the men they were able to identify as Brown and Thompson, English said. However, the two men ignored their commands and entered a vehicle, he said.

It appeared Brown was trying to hide the bag he was carrying under the passenger seat, English said.

Officers removed Brown from the vehicle and arrested him, but Thompson remained in the driver’s seat and locked the doors, English said.

Thompson ignored officers’ commands to stop, placed the vehicle in gear, and attempted to drive around the officers, English said.

Other officers arrived to provide backup, English said. At that time, Thompson stopped the vehicle and was arrested, English said.

Officers searched the vehicle and recovered a loaded 9 mm handgun sticking out of a bag that Brown had been carrying, English said. Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the bag as well, he said.

Officers searched the trunk of the vehicle and found a large amount of marijuana along with drug-packaging material, English said.

Officers were able to determine the 9 mm handgun had been reported stolen in Mississippi, English said. The vehicle was towed from the scene, he said.