Man Arrested After Police Find Cocked and Loaded Gun in Car

Officers on patrol in Forest Park reported seeing a speeding car going 40 mph in a 25-mph zone and believed the driver was also talking on a cell phone and texting in the 7200 block of Randolph around 1:45 p.m. Jan. 15.

After stopping the vehicle, police said the driver, who was later identified as Brian O. Finley, 33, of Broadview, was making movements toward the center console of the vehicle as the officers approached.

Officers told Finley the reason they pulled him over, and he apologized for speeding and said because he was on his phone, he didn't realize how fast he was going.

Officers reported they asked Finley a series of questions, including whether he had any pistols or weapons inside the car. Police said Finley refused to answer. Police ordered Finley out of the vehicle and again asked if he had anything illegal in the vehicle, to which Finley again replied "no." Police said they asked if they could search the vehicle, to which Finley consented.

Police opened the vehicle's center console and found a Phoenix Arms .22 caliber handgun with 10 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. Police reported that the gun was also cocked.

Finley was placed into custody. When asked about the gun, Finley said, "Man, there's a lot of bad people out there."

Police ran the serial number on the handgun, which was reported stolen in Chicago in 2002.

At the station, after being read his rights, Finley told officers that he had the gun because his cousin was shot and killed in Maywood a few weeks earlier. When asked why her had it cocked and loaded, Finley told officers that, "It's just, it's a crazy world out there."

When asked if he knew the gun was stolen and who had given it to him, Finley then said, "What gun? I don't know nothing about no gun."

He then refused to answer further questions from officers and the interview was ended.

Finley was charged with one aggravated count of unlawful use of a weapon and held for a bond hearing.