CHICAGO – An 18-year-old man who was scheduled to leave the Cook County Jail on Wednesday is not going home after all. That’s because Kemari Johnson is now facing a new charge of possessing a loaded firearm in jail.
Johnson was initially arrested on Nov. 11 after knocking a Chicago police officer to the ground during a domestic dispute, according to court records. The next day, a judge decided to release Johnson under electronic monitoring, but he remained in jail for a week, seemingly unable to find a place to live while wearing an ankle monitor.
According to court records, Judge Lindsay Huge dropped the electronic monitoring requirement on Tuesday, allowing Johnson to leave jail under a nightly curfew.
Around 2:50 a.m. Wednesday, a probation officer was preparing to place an ankle monitor designed to track curfew compliance on Johnson’s leg when Johnson asked a question.
“Can I hand something in?” he asked, officials say.
Before the probation officer could respond, Johnson reached into his right pants pocket, pulled out an ammunition magazine and placed it on a table. He then reached into the crotch of his pants and pulled out a black and silver Taurus 140 handgun with seven live rounds and also placed it on the table, according to a criminal complaint.
The probation officer secured the gun and magazine and took Johnson to a supervisor’s office. He was “subsequently searched” by jail staff, an arrest report said.
Judge Shauna Boliker arrested Johnson during a court hearing on Friday afternoon. He is charged with possession of a firearm in a penal institution.
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