Chicago, IL: A suspect who was out on bail with an electronic monitoring device for firing a rifle into a housing complex has been re-arrested after again being found in possession of a firearm with the serial number removed- sparking a local judge to question the entire bail reform process.
The suspect who allegedly fired a shot from a rifle can expect more jail time coming his way. Police recently found a loaded and defaced firearm in the South Loop area near where they arrested 20-year-old Lamont Sims. Police believed Sims owned the firearm in a case that very much resembled his first arrest. Sims denied all allegations and claimed he was arrested under false charges.
Lamont Sims may not be a model citizen, but he didn’t have any prior convictions before his initial arrest. While on bail, he was authorized by a local judge to work as a courier for the delivery service Door Dash every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sims claimed he was working when the police claimed they apprehended him for unlawful firearm possession and aggravated use of a weapon. Sim’s First Arrest On July 23rd of this year, several police officers heard gunshots and saw several people running toward an SUV, later found to be a stolen vehicle, parked in the middle of Wentworth Avenue.
The police responded to the scene and followed the SUV, only to observe people inside the SUV brandishing their guns, who then started shooting at the housing complex. It is unclear if there were any casualties or injuries from the shooting. Police then chased the SUV until everyone inside the car bailed out and ran away. Sims was among those running away but was caught and arrested. Surveillance camera footage showed Sims brandishing a gun from inside the SUV firing at the housing complex. Police found an assault rifle and several handguns within the SUV along with more firearms around the general area from other suspects ditching the weapons as they ran.
Sims posted bail at $20,000 only one day after the arrest which included electronic monitoring, as ruled by Judge Barbara Dawkins. He went on an appeal a month later, and in October, Judge Domenica Stephenson allowed Sims to step out of the house while still on electronic monitoring for employment- which he later claimed was a Door Dash driver.
More on the Case
The prosecutor, Rhianna Biernat mentioned the police received information about a specific car causing disturbances in the area. The vehicle, noted as a Gray Kia Optima, was often seen by residents in the local parking lot causing security officers problems. Upon investigation following the latest report, Chicago police reported to that same parking lot. They found a Kia Optima, as mentioned, and apprehended Sims and his two friends.
During the arrest, Sims allegedly put his hand underneath the passenger seat as if to hide something. And that was when the police saw the loaded 9-millimeter loaded and defaced handgun. They also found a bag of cash in the vehicle.
However, there was no information if the vehicle was related to other cases or whether the defaced firearm is similar to the one from Sims' previous case. There is also no information on the origin of the money or whether it's part of a larger operation. This case primarily raised concerns because Sims was under electronic monitoring when it happened. But his public defender, Suzin Farber, argued that her client is innocent.
She pointed out how nobody saw Sims brandishing the gun to threaten or cause harm to the people nearby. But the local judge, Judge Charles Beach saw it differently. According to a local news column, he stated: “Beach countered that the case ‘almost poses the very question of whether monetary bail works.’” It continued: “‘You posted $20,000 to be released from custody, sir,’ Beach noted. ‘$20,000 to be placed on [electronic monitoring]. Yet here we stand today.’” Sims is nos being help without bail at the state’s request. Follow this writer on Twitter for latest in stories by clicking HERE.
The suspect who allegedly fired a shot from a rifle can expect more jail time coming his way. Police recently found a loaded and defaced firearm in the South Loop area near where they arrested 20-year-old Lamont Sims. Police believed Sims owned the firearm in a case that very much resembled his first arrest. Sims denied all allegations and claimed he was arrested under false charges.
Lamont Sims
Lamont Sims may not be a model citizen, but he didn’t have any prior convictions before his initial arrest. While on bail, he was authorized by a local judge to work as a courier for the delivery service Door Dash every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sims claimed he was working when the police claimed they apprehended him for unlawful firearm possession and aggravated use of a weapon. Sim’s First Arrest On July 23rd of this year, several police officers heard gunshots and saw several people running toward an SUV, later found to be a stolen vehicle, parked in the middle of Wentworth Avenue.
The police responded to the scene and followed the SUV, only to observe people inside the SUV brandishing their guns, who then started shooting at the housing complex. It is unclear if there were any casualties or injuries from the shooting. Police then chased the SUV until everyone inside the car bailed out and ran away. Sims was among those running away but was caught and arrested. Surveillance camera footage showed Sims brandishing a gun from inside the SUV firing at the housing complex. Police found an assault rifle and several handguns within the SUV along with more firearms around the general area from other suspects ditching the weapons as they ran.
Sims posted bail at $20,000 only one day after the arrest which included electronic monitoring, as ruled by Judge Barbara Dawkins. He went on an appeal a month later, and in October, Judge Domenica Stephenson allowed Sims to step out of the house while still on electronic monitoring for employment- which he later claimed was a Door Dash driver.
More on the Case
The prosecutor, Rhianna Biernat mentioned the police received information about a specific car causing disturbances in the area. The vehicle, noted as a Gray Kia Optima, was often seen by residents in the local parking lot causing security officers problems. Upon investigation following the latest report, Chicago police reported to that same parking lot. They found a Kia Optima, as mentioned, and apprehended Sims and his two friends.
During the arrest, Sims allegedly put his hand underneath the passenger seat as if to hide something. And that was when the police saw the loaded 9-millimeter loaded and defaced handgun. They also found a bag of cash in the vehicle.
However, there was no information if the vehicle was related to other cases or whether the defaced firearm is similar to the one from Sims' previous case. There is also no information on the origin of the money or whether it's part of a larger operation. This case primarily raised concerns because Sims was under electronic monitoring when it happened. But his public defender, Suzin Farber, argued that her client is innocent.
She pointed out how nobody saw Sims brandishing the gun to threaten or cause harm to the people nearby. But the local judge, Judge Charles Beach saw it differently. According to a local news column, he stated: “Beach countered that the case ‘almost poses the very question of whether monetary bail works.’” It continued: “‘You posted $20,000 to be released from custody, sir,’ Beach noted. ‘$20,000 to be placed on [electronic monitoring]. Yet here we stand today.’” Sims is nos being help without bail at the state’s request. Follow this writer on Twitter for latest in stories by clicking HERE.
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