A Wisconsin man was arrested on criminal charges, including bribery and drug possession, in Chicago after police pulled him over for driving without headlights at 1 a.m. Police claim they noticed an open beer can in the cup holder of the center console and ordered him to have a sobriety test. They also spotted a gun on his driver’s seat, a small bag of marijuana and cash.
The man told police he was a “white boy from Wisconsin” who was on vacation with his family. He explained he borrowed the gun from a friend for protection because he and his girlfriend were scared to drive in Chicago. Though the man wasn’t able to produce a driver’s license according to the police, it is unclear whether he just forgot his license or he wasn’t licensed to drive.
As the situation was clearly getting more serious for the man, police claim he told them his girlfriend could bring them $100,000. The man was charged with bribing an officer, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia and various traffic offenses. He was held on $90,000 bail.
Though the man faces serious charges, he may be in the situation as a result of a misguided attempt to protect himself in a known dangerous part of Chicago. He has the right to defend himself to the fullest extent under the law and is innocent until proven guilty. He would be well-advised to consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Qualified criminal defense attorneys are often successful in negotiating advantageous plea bargains and represent the best interests of their clients in a courtroom.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Man accused of offering $100,000 bribe to police: ‘Just let me walk, bro‘,” Jason Meisner, Aug. 25, 2011