Naperville, IL – A convicted felon from Joliet was arrested Monday at the popular entertainment venue, TopGolf, after an observant Naperville police officer on foot patrol allegedly detected the scent of cannabis emanating from an unattended Volkswagen SUV.
According to Naperville police reports, a closer inspection of the vehicle, the officer noticed a gun sticking out of the driver’s side door. Officers would later report the discovery of a loaded Glock 42 handgun in Darron Prince’s possession, leading to a denial of bond at his recent hearing.
Prince, 36, is accused of illegal firearm possession, facing charges of Armed Habitual Criminal and Armed Violence, both Class X Felonies.
Following the initial encounter, an hour later, Prince returned to the scene, prompting officers to initiate a traffic stop. Prince, seated in the driver’s seat, reportedly made suspicious movements towards the firearm, which lead to his immediate arrest.
A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered not only the loaded handgun but also 40 grams of cannabis, 1.2 grams of mushrooms, 12 grams of cocaine, 19 grams of heroin, and one MDMA pill.
Prince already had pending charges of theft (Class 1 Felony) and Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony) in Will County, along with a criminal history that includes convictions for Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Gang Member and Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin expressed his dismay, stating, “With multiple felony convictions, there is absolutely no justification whatsoever why Mr. Prince was in possession of a loaded firearm, as alleged in this case. The allegations that he was in possession of a loaded weapon at a family-friendly recreation facility are extremely troubling.”
Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres commended the department’s efforts, emphasizing their commitment to removing illegal weapons from the streets. “Our officers are making an extraordinary effort to keep this community safe,” he stated.
Prince’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 27, where he will face arraignment in front of Judge Brian Telander.
