‘I Have to Be Honest With You, I Have a Gun’

Keith Cross, 45, of Aurora, was arrested at 6:12 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, on a misdemeanor charge of unlawful use of a firearm.

Police saw Cross drive into the Al Piemonte’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep, 1611 E. Main St., St. Charles, and stopped him there to find out why he was at the business before it opened. Cross told police he had an agreement with some local car dealers who allow him to take old or used tires.

During the stop, police asked to search his car, and Cross told the officer, “I have to be honest with you, I have a gun” in a case inside the vehicle. The case had no lock, police said, and was positioned in the car with easy access for the driver.

The 9 mm Beretta had two magazines, each holding 17 rounds, and one magazine was inside the gun. Cross did have a firearm-owner identification card and told police he purchased the gun a day earlier for personal defense. He told police had had intended to go shooting later in the day.

Police arrested Cross, whom they described as cooperative and apologetic about the incident, and he told officers he was unaware it was illegal to transport the gun as he had.

He was released on his own recognizance pending a Sept. 19, 2013 court appearance.