Teen With 'Ghost Gun' In Pants Arrested After Detective Smells Marijuana

SKOKIE, IL — A high school senior is accused of carrying a loaded "ghost gun" last month in downtown Evanston.

A detective discovered the untraceable pistol during a pat-down of a passenger in a car pulled over for no front plates and driving in a bike lane in the 1800 block of Lake Street around 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 25, authorities said.

Dallas Reid, 18, of the 2300 block of Dempster Street, Evanston, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a felony, and two misdemeanor counts of possession of a firearm and of ammunition without a firearm owners identification card.

"[Reid] is caught with a 'ghost gun,' allegedly, in his waistband with two magazines — not one but two — hanging out with other individuals in the vehicle," Cook County Associate Judge Anthony Calabrese said at the teen's initial court appearance. "Extraordinarily dangerous situation."

According to prosecutors, Reid was one of four occupants asked to step out of the car by members of the Evanston Police Department special operations group who noticed signs of marijuana use in the car.

"I noticed the distinct odor of burnt and fresh cannabis, as well as green leafy plant matter scattered throughout the floorboard," Det. Daniel Rosenbaum, the arresting officer, testified Tuesday at a preliminary hearing..

"What reasonable suspicion did you have to perform a Terry pat-down?" asked defense attorney John Curnyn.

"I was investigating a narcotics complaint," Rosenbaum said, "due to the presence of possible cannabis inside the vehicle in which he was a passenger."

Illinois appellate courts districts are divided when it comes to whether the smell of marijuana provides probable cause for a search of a car.

Last year, a unanimous appeals panel in the 3rd District, which includes DuPage, Will, Kankakee and five other northern Illinois counties south and west of Chicago, decided in the case of People v. Stribling that "the smell of burnt cannabis, without any corroborating factors, is not enough to establish probable cause to search" someone's car.

But in January, appellate judges in Illinois' 4th District, composed of west and northwest regions of the state, came to the opposite conclusion. In People v. Hall, the panel noted state law requires legally possessed cannabis to be transported in an odor-proof container while in a car, and the odor alone can not establish whether the quantity of marijuana is above the legal limit, so a reasonable officer who smells weed in a car "would believe someone in the vehicle was at least transporting cannabis in a manner violating the Vehicle Code."

However, in Reid's case, the gun was not allegedly found in a search of a the car but rather tucked into his waistband. And a judge will not have an opportunity to determine whether the stop was justified under constitutional protections against illegal searches and seizures until a motion to do so is filed on Reid's behalf.

---

Rosenbaum said Reid was sitting in the front passenger seat of the car before the detective and his partner asked him to step out.

"As I was patting down his waistband, I felt the distinct shape of a handgun protruding from his waistband and recovered a handgun, " Rosenbaum said.

Officers reported they found a loaded Polymer80 unserialized pistol, also known as a "ghost gun", with six rounds in its magazine from Reid's waistband. Reid also had another magazine containing 10 live rounds, according to prosecutors.

The number of "ghost guns" used in crimes tripled between 2020 and 2021, according to research from gun control advocacy organizations.

According to police, the driver of the car was issued two traffic citations and a civil law violation for cannabis possession, one passenger was also issued a city ordinance citation and another passenger was released without being charged or cited.

Reid posted the $500 cash portion of his bond to secure his pretrial release after a bond hearing before Calabrese. Following this week's preliminary hearing, he is due back in court on March 27, when he will have an opportunity to enter a plea.

Related:
Teens Armed With 'Ghost Guns' Arrested At Edens Plaza In Wilmette
Wanted 16-Year-Old Ditches 'Ghost Gun' During Evanston Chase: Cops
'Ghost Gun' Found During Traffic Stop Of Evanston Teen, Police Say
Glenview Man Convicted Of Selling AR-15 'Ghost Gun' In Deerfield