Court denies pre-trial release for man accused of hiding loaded gun under child's car seat

A Downers Grove man is being held without pre-trial release after a judge granted the state’s motion to detain him. Antoine Street, 40, was charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon concealed in a vehicle without a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card or Concealed Carry License, along with misdemeanor counts including resisting a police officer, endangering the health or life of a child, and unlawful possession of cannabis by a passenger.

According to DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres, Naperville police stopped a vehicle on February 3 after learning its registered owner had active warrants out of Cook County. Officers identified Street as the rear passenger. Next to him was a one-year-old child in a car seat. When officers informed Street he was under arrest, he allegedly resisted before being removed from the vehicle and taken into custody.

During the search, officers reportedly found a loaded 9mm Ruger pistol with one bullet in the chamber under the child’s car seat. The gun was less than an inch away from where Street was sitting, with its handle facing him and barrel pointed toward the driver’s side. Police also allege that Street possessed about thirty-two grams of cannabis at the time.

“The very idea that someone would hide a loaded weapon, with one bullet in the chamber, under an occupied child car seat where their infant daughter was sitting is inconceivable,” Berlin said. “Thankfully, officers were able to remove the weapon before tragedy struck. I commend the Naperville Police Department for their heads-up work on this case and for their continued efforts in keeping our communities safe. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Sean Kinsella and Jennifer Nielsen for their efforts in securing charges against Mr. Street.”

“Naperville has some of the most proactive, dedicated police officers a community could ask for,” Arres said. “Arrests like this highlight the fact that our officers aren’t just sitting around waiting for the next 9-1-1 call to come in. They’re out there patrolling, conducting traffic stops, and making this city safer. With their effort and the support of State’s Attorney Bob Berlin’s office, we’ll continue to take offenders off the streets and hold them accountable for breaking the law and endangering our community.”

Street's next court appearance is scheduled for March 2 before Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.

Authorities remind members of the public that these are charges only; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

The incident comes as DuPage County continues to serve more than 142,000 students across its schools with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx). Teacher absenteeism in DuPage County reached 38.3% that same year—above Illinois’ statewide average (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx).

York Community High School had the highest enrollment of white students among county schools during 2022-23 (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx), while Metea Valley High School led in multiracial student enrollment (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx). Addison Trail High School enrolled more Hispanic students than any other school in DuPage County (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx), and Westmore Elementary School had the highest number of Pacific Islander students (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx).