A seemingly routine traffic stop on Chicago's Near West Side turned into a weapons bust Monday, with officers recovering two handguns and taking one person into custody near 1300 S. Damen, according to police. Officers at the scene also flagged what they described as a possible presence of cannabis. The department publicly applauded what it called proactive work, but did not immediately release charges or the identity of the person detained.
🚔 BT 1234 traffic stop near 1300 S Damen: 1 in custody, 2 handguns recovered + possible cannabis. 🙌 Thanks to our officers for proactive work! 👮♂️💙
— Chicago Police, 12th District Near West (@ChicagoCAPS12) Feb 2, 2026
Police Post Highlights Gun Recovery On Near West Side
Details of the stop came from a social media update by the Chicago Police, 12th District Near West. In the post, officers from beat BT 1234 reported pulling over a vehicle near 1300 S. Damen, recovering two handguns and placing one individual into custody. The post also mentioned a possible cannabis finding at the scene, without elaborating.
Where The Stop Happened And What The 12th District Covers
The location cited in the post falls within the Near West Side area patrolled by the Chicago Police Department’s 12th District. According to the Chicago Police Department's 12th District page, the district headquarters sits at 1412 S. Blue Island, and the district’s coverage area includes Humboldt Park, West Town, and the Lower West Side.
Why Gun Recoveries Keep Drawing Scrutiny In Chicago
Incidents like this traffic stop play into a larger picture of gun enforcement in Chicago. Reporting has shown that federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced tens of thousands of so-called crime guns recovered in the city in recent years. The Chicago Sun-Times has highlighted those trace figures, while state officials have deployed tools such as the Crime Gun Connect database to help investigators follow the movement of illegal firearms, according to GovTech.
What Police Are Not Saying Yet
Even with the social media spotlight, key details of the Near West stop remain unanswered. The department has not said what charges, if any, the person in custody may face, nor whether the recovered firearms were loaded or how they were being stored. Officials also have not publicly clarified the outcome of the possible cannabis observation. Detectives and prosecutors are expected to review the case before any formal charges are filed, and as of Monday night, no additional information had been released.
How To Share Information Or Tips
Anyone with information related to the traffic stop can contact the 12th District’s non-emergency line at (312) 746-8396 or use the contact information listed on the Chicago Police Department website. As always, residents are advised to call 911 in emergencies.
