Admitted gang member faces drug, weapons charges in Palatine

An admitted gang member arrested after gunshots were fired in Palatine faces drug and weapons charges.

Samuel Cervantes, 22, of Palatine, was ordered held on $100,000 bail Wednesday on charges of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member.

Responding to reports of gunshots around 10:30 p.m. Monday, officers saw Cervantes run from the scene on the 1800 block of North Green Lane in Palatine.

They gave chase and apprehended him a short time later.

They recovered a folded $20 bill which contained about two grams of cocaine, said Cook County assistant state's attorney Jennifer Gates.

Cervantes admitted to police he belongs to a street gang and that he had on him a .357 Ruger earlier that day. He claimed he gave the gun to another man and he himself did not fire it, Gates said. Officers later recovered the gun from an apartment that did not belong to Cervantes, Gates said. Police say a bullet fired from that gun broke an apartment window. No one was hurt.

Cervantes has neither a firearm owners identification card nor a concealed carry permit, prosecutors said.

At the time of his arrest, Cervantes was on supervision for driving without a valid driver's license.

If convicted of the most serious charge, he faces up to seven years in prison.

Cervantes next appearance in court is set for Dec. 22.