What started as a routine traffic stop on Interstate 74 outside Galesburg turned into a cross-country catch last Thursday, when officers learned the driver was wanted on a Los Angeles County homicide warrant and found a loaded, reportedly stolen handgun in the vehicle. Both men in the car were taken into custody and booked at the Knox County Jail, authorities say.
Stop on I-74 and IDs
According to a police media release reported by KWQC, Galesburg officers pulled the vehicle over near mile marker 46 on I-74 at about 10:30 a.m. The driver was identified as 50-year-old Timothy Johnson, and a records check showed he had an active homicide warrant out of Los Angeles County. Officers transported both Johnson and his passenger to the Knox County Jail following the stop.
What Officers Found
Local reporting says officers searched the car and located a loaded handgun that had been reported stolen from Washington state. The passenger, identified as 40-year-old Rafael Lambert, was arrested on weapons-related charges tied to the firearm, US 104.9 reported. Both men were processed at the Knox County facility after the stop.
Charges and Court Dates
Johnson is wanted on a Los Angeles County homicide warrant and faces additional local allegations of possession of a stolen firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, according to local accounts. Lambert was charged in Knox County with possession of a stolen firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and was released after a detention hearing. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 6, 2026, according to Our Quad Cities.
Extradition and Next Steps
Authorities said Johnson remains in the Knox County Jail as officials coordinate the outstanding Los Angeles warrant and any transfer, KWQC reported. Local coverage also indicates Johnson has agreed to return to California without contesting extradition, an arrangement noted by US 104.9.
Legal Implications
Because Johnson was arrested on an out-of-state homicide warrant, the case will follow the interstate extradition process while Knox County prosecutors review the local weapons-related allegations. Lambert’s July preliminary hearing will determine whether the Knox County counts move forward, procedural steps described in local reporting by Our Quad Cities.
