25-05-2025
Fake gun could have led to a bad end for metro-east teen, police chief says
Cahokia Heights police made three arrests since Saturday that resulted in criminal charges and weapons seizures.
Two of the arrests involved juveniles, said Cahokia Heights Police Chief Thomas Trice, who had been in the job for less than a week.
'We want (people) to know that we will not tolerate it. We are going to be doing proactive policing and anyone who is caught with an unauthorized gun will face the consequences,' Trice said. We are going to make the streets safe for our citizens and our visitors.'
One of the incidents could have ended badly for a 15-year-old who was reported to police wearing a hoodie and face mask and carrying a realistic-looking AR-15 style gun that proved to be fake complete with magazine and steel barrel, Trice said.
When officers spotted him, they could see the butt of the gun protruding from his sweatshirt, Trice said.
'This outcome could have been very different if the officers had made another decision,' he said. 'But, their quick critical thinking prevented that.
'One officer came from behind, snatched the weapon, while the other officer pulled him down to the ground.'
The teen, a resident of Cahokia Heights, was later released to his parents.
In a separate incident, another 15-year-old was detained carrying a handgun. He also was released to his parents.
And in a third arrest,Trice said a rookie Cahokia Heights Police officer stopped a car that was being driven erratically on Range Lane at 6:55 p.m. Saturday and noted the driver was 'acting really nervous.'
'He asked the driver to step outside of his vehicle. While talking to him, the officer noticed a bulge in his waist,' Trice said.
When backup arrived, officers recovered a 9mm weapon from the suspect's waistband.
Joseph McGary, of the 800 block of Mildren Lane in Cahokia Heights, was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a gun. He was released from police custody following a pretrial detention hearing Tuesday, but ordered not to leave the area or to use alcohol or drugs.
