A Gary man is facing multiple charges resulting from police finding an automatic weapon in his car during a traffic stop.
Bobby Larnell Quinn Jr. is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony; possession of a machine gun, a Level 5 felony; and escape, a Level 5 felony.
Around 12:34 a.m. on July 29, Merrillville police responded to the area of 76th Avenue and Whitcomb Street for a report of a reckless driver, according to a probable cause affidavit. The officer saw the driver of a 2013 white Buick car disregard a stop sign and speed up. A woman was driving the car and Quinn was a passenger, court records state. In the back seat, the officer saw a loaded black Glock 22, .40-caliber pistol with a switch attached to the rear slide that made it a fully automatic handgun.
The car was registered to Quinn, records state. When asked about the gun, Quinn didn’t say anything and refused to answer any further questions from police. Police handcuffed Quinn, but he was able to manuever his handcuffs in front of him, open the patrol car door and take off on foot, the affidavit states. Police apprehended him after a short pursuit.
In 2019, Quinn was convicted of criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon, a Level 3 felony, in Lake County Superior Court, court records state.