Guns Found In Man's Car, Claims To Be Retired Police Chief: Cops

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — A man who claimed to be a former police chief was arrested when police found guns and ammunition in his car along with an unrestrained child, prosecutors said. Ralph Tolbert, 60, of Country Club Hills, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Tolbert is also facing a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.

Police responded to a well-being check on Nov. 11 at Chi Tung Restaurant, 9560 S. Kedzie Ave. in Evergreen Park. When officers arrived, the prosecutor said they saw a man, later identified as Tolbert, sitting in the parking lot inside a black Cadillac who appeared intoxicated. Officers said a child in the back seat was not wearing a seat belt.

The prosecutor said Tolbert would not exit the car or roll down the window. When he did roll down the window, officers said he only lowered it in an inch. Eventually, the prosecutor said police broke Tolbert’s rear driver’s side window and got him out of the car.

Tolbert allegedly told police he was a retired police chief but would not say where. Officers said they saw Tolbert move his hands under his seat. Police searched the car, where they claimed to have found a loaded Ruger .380 handgun in the center console. Officers found a 9 mm Tanfoglio handgun was recovered in a zipped bag from the truck, in addition to two loaded magazines under the spare tire, according to the charges.

The prosecutor said Tolbert had a FOID card, but no conceal-carry license. Police could not verify that Tolbert had been a cop.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Tolbert was a retired chief of the Dixmoor Police Department. The child seated in the car was his 5-year-old daughter. He said Tolbert was getting ready to attend a funeral out of state and that his wife could come up with $1,000 for bond.

Mahoney said he didn’t think that would happen.

“You were intoxicated and armed to the teeth,” the judge said. “You had guns hidden all around and a 5-year-old in the car. What were you thinking.”

Bail was set at $50,000. Tolbert is due back in court on Dec. 11.

“I think that’s a gift,” Mahoney said.

Tolbert's former employment with the Dixmoor Police Department could not be verified.