BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — A Normal man who was on parole is back in custody after police allegedly found a firearm during a traffic stop.
On July 1, following an investigation by the Bloomington Police Department Patrol Division, an arrest warrant was issued for Caleb Teplitz-Crawford, 22, on eight firearms-related offenses, according to spokesperson Chris Janssen.
Janssen said that on June 27, an officer conducting a traffic enforcement detail initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with a suspended registration. The vehicle stopped near the intersection of Grove Street and Front Street.
He said during the stop, the driver immediately grabbed a handgun from inside the vehicle and ran away.
Additional officers went to search for the suspect. A person matching the suspect’s description entered a nearby venue and, as a precaution, officers, along with assisting McLean County Sheriff’s deputies, secured the area and temporarily redirected traffic to ensure public safety.
Officers eventually determined that the person who entered the venue was not the person who fled the traffic stop. The area was cleared, and the business resumed normal operations.
Janssen said a Bloomington K-9 unit and assisting officers continued to search the area where the suspect was last seen. During the search, the K-9 unit found a loaded handgun in a nearby yard.
Officers later identified the driver as Teplitz-Crawford, who Janssen said was on parole at the time. The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) was notified, and a full extradition IDOC warrant was issued for a parole violation.
On June 30, Teplitz-Crawford was taken into custody by IDOC officers for the warrant. He remains in custody at Stateville Correctional Center.
In addition to several traffic citations, a McLean County warrant was issued for charges including felon in possession of a weapon while on parole and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon.
“This is a prime example of how our officers can encounter unexpected situations during what many may consider ‘routine police work,’” said Chief Jamal Simington. “Thank you to the officers who put themselves in harm’s way and demonstrated the investigative skills needed to remove another handgun from someone legally prohibited from possessing one. We also appreciate the venue and event participants for their understanding during this evolving situation.”
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