Police: Felon arrested in Aurora had body armor and gun

An Aurora man with a felony record faces prison after a traffic stop in Aurora Thursday morning in which authorities caught him in possession of a .40-caliber pistol while wearing Kevlar body armor under his clothing.

Eric A. Liddell, 44, of the 900 block of Lebanon Street, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon/possessing body armor, possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and obstructing identification after an early morning traffic stop on the city's near east side, according to the Kane County sheriff's office and court records.

A deputy spotted a GMC Yukon with no rear plate and made a traffic stop at 2:37 a.m. Thursday at Hazel and Lincoln avenues, according to a sheriff's report.

The deputy saw a .40-caliber Taurus handgun in a holster between the driver's seat and center console, and put the driver, under arrest for unlawful possession of a firearm because he did not have a Firearm Owner's Identification card or a concealed carry permit, according to the report.

Once at the sheriff's office, authorities learned that Liddell had given the officer a false name and had a felony record, meaning he could not possess a gun.

He also was wanted on a Cook County warrant for fleeing and eluding, the report said.

The deputy discovered Liddell was wearing Kevlar body armor under his clothing; if convicted of the body armor charge, he faces a sentence of six to 30 years in prison with no chance of probation.

Liddell is being held on $250,000 bail, meaning he must post $25,000 in order to be released while the case is pending. He is next due in court on Nov. 21.