Bond Set At $50,000 For Chicago Man Accused Of Illegal Possession Of Loaded Gun, Fleeing Police

Press release from the DuPage County State’s Attorney Office:

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Hinsdale Chief of Police Brian King announced today that bond has been set for a Chicago man accused of illegally possessing a fully loaded firearm and fleeing from the police.

James Ruffin, 27 (d.o.b. 3/16/1993) of the 5500 block of W. Iowa, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge George Bakalis set bond at $50,000 with 10% to apply. In all, Ruffin has been charged with one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3 Felony), one count of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (Class 3 Felony), one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4 Felony) and two counts of Misdemeanor DUI.

On November 22, 2020, at approximately 1;10 a.m., a Hinsdale police officer observed a vehicle stopped in the through lanes of traffic on westbound Ogden Avenue. The officer pulled his vehicle behind the stopped vehicle, exited his patrol car and approached the stopped car on foot. It is alleged that at this time, the driver, later identified as Ruffin, exited his vehicle, observed the officer approaching him, re-entered his vehicle and drove away.

It is further alleged that while fleeing, Ruffin crashed his car into a traffic standard at Ogden and Madison and continued driving afterwards. The officer briefly followed the defendant.

A short time later, a Westmont police officer observed a car matching the description of the defendant’s car pull into the parking lot of an apartment complex. The Hinsdale police officer originally involved arrived at the scene at which time the defendant was placed under arrest. It is alleged that while searching Ruffin’s vehicle, officers found a fully loaded pistol with a thirty-round clip. It is further alleged that Ruffin’s BAC was .256.

“It is alleged that Mr. Ruffin, a convicted felon who was illegally in possession of a handgun with an extended magazine, was driving drunk and, when approached by police officers, showed a complete disregard for authority and put the motoring public at risk by fleeing from the police,” Berlin said. “I would like to thank the Hinsdale Police Department for their heads-up work on this case that not only removed an alleged drunk driver from the road, but also allegedly took an extremely dangerous weapon out of the hands of a convicted felon. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Matt Dambach and Rob Willis for their work in preparing a strong case against Mr. Ruffin.”

“This is the second time in less than a week a traffic stop has yielded a handgun with an extended clip that was allegedly in the possession of a convicted felon,” King said. “We are appreciative of the attention that State’s Attorney Bob Berlin’s office provides to these cases.”

Ruffin’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 5, 2021, for arraignment. Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This press release was produced by the DuPage County State’s Attorney Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.