Man charged after cops find gun in hit-and-run car

Evanston police say an early morning hit-and-run accident has led to felony charges against two men.

Police Cmdr. Ryan Glew says about 1:10 a.m. Monday officers in the 600 block of Oakton Street spoke with a witness who described a car that had struck a street sign and then fled the scene. The officers also noticed a tree that had fresh damage indicating it was also struck in the hit-and-run.

Glew says officers found a car matching the description of the hit-and-run vehicle in the 300 block of Sherman Avenue — a red 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that had damage to the passenger side and windshield.

He says two men — Renaldo Tillmon and Terry Ross — were found standing near the car.

Tillmon, the car’s registered owner, admitted he owned it and was taken into custody for a hit and run investigation.

Before towing the car, officers conducted an inventory search and Glew says they found a case in the back seat that contained a 9 mm Hi Point Model C9 handgun.

Tillmon, Glew says, did not have a FOID card or a concealed carry license.

While officers were investigating the hit and run, police dispatch received a 911 call of an armed robbery in the area of Callan Avenue and Howard Street.

It turned out to be a bogus report — no armed robbery had taken place. Glew says the investigation revealed the call originated from Ross’s cellphone and that he made an admission to officers that he placed the false 911 call.

Tillmon, 42, of the 1800 block of West John Street in Champaign, has been charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon as well as charges related to the accident. He was ordered held on a $50,000 D bond and is next scheduled to appear at the Skokie Courthouse on July 6.

Ross, of the 1900 block of Howard St. in Evanston, faces a felony disorderly conduct charge related to the 911 call. He was ordered held on a $25,000 D bond and is due back in court on July 5.