Hampshire Man Charged With Discharge of Firearm in Tavern Parking Lot

A Hampshire man is facing charges of shooting a firearm into the air — as well as assault and marijuana possession — after a Saturday altercation in the parking lot of a rural bar.

Kane County sheriff's deputies arrested James Staples, 38, of Hampshire on charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated assault, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of between 2.5 and 10 grams of cannabis following the incident at Old Starks Tavern, 43-W-478 Il Route 72 in unincorporated Hampshire.

According to reports, Kane County sheriff’s deputies along with officers from the Pingree Grove Police Department responded to Old Starks Tavern at around 1 a.m. on Nov. 9. for a report of gunshots being fired outside the bar.

When deputies and officers arrived they were told that there was a verbal altercation in the parking lot between two men. At one point, one of the men got into a car and fired several shots into the air. He then left the area, reports said.

Deputies were able to locate at least two shell casings in the parking lot. No one was hit during the incident.

About 90 minutes later, sheriff’s deputies were informed that Elgin Police had located the suspect's vehicle and took the driver into custody in the parking lot of a restaurant located in the 300 block of McLean Avenue in Elgin. The driver of that car was positively identified as the person who had discharged the gun in the parking lot of the bar and then fled the scene.

When Elgin officers took him into custody, they located a 9mm handgun, cannabis and drug paraphernalia.

Starks was transported to the Kane County Adult Justice Center. His bond was set at $50,000.


SOURCE: Kane County Sheriff's Office

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