(PEORIA, IL) Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at approximately 5:20 p.m. members of the Peoria Police Department’s Special Investigations Division (SID) conducted surveillance on a vehicle of interest in a current investigation parked in the 700 block of E. Lasalle.
At approximately 6:36 p.m. officers observed two male juveniles enter the vehicle and drive away. Officers followed, and observed the vehicle stop at a local business.
Officers immediately approached the vehicle because of a traffic violation. One subject was quickly detained, and the other fled the scene on foot. After a short foot pursuit, officers apprehended the juvenile in the 3800 block of W. Brighton and placed him into custody.
During a search of the vehicle, officers located a loaded fully automatic handgun with an extended magazine inside. Officers with the assistance of a K9 conducted a search of the area with negative results.
Both juveniles who are 17- years old were transported to the Peoria Police Department for interviewing purposes and subsequently arrested.
One juvenile was arrested for Possession of a Machine Gun, Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Resisting Police, and an Active Warrant for Motor Vehicle Theft (#23-3093). He was transported to the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.
The second juvenile was issued Traffic Citations and later released.
If you have any information regarding any violent crimes, please contact the Peoria Police Department at (309) 673-4521, tip411 (anonymously), or Crime Stoppers (anonymously) at (309) 673-9000.
**All suspects and arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. **