Crime & Safety

Evergreen Park Police Respond to Gun For Pass on Ticket Claims

A story by Fox Chicago alleges that a man was offered the chance to get off on a ticket if he found a gun to give to Evergreen Park police.

A recent television report says that Evergreen Park Police offered a man driving on a suspended license a chance to get away cleanly, he just needed to find a gun to hand over. 

Fox Chicago reporter Dane Placko says the man, Michael Holton, was found to have a suspended license after being pulled over on Tuesday, Jan. 8 for a burnt out license plate light. An officer from the tactical unit then offered him a deal. If he could produce a gun to hand over to the police they would let him off, the story claims. 

Holton, an insurance salesman, claimed he does not own a gun, has no gang ties and was unclear why the police were putting pressure on him. 

Find out what's happening in Evergreen Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Watch the full story

Dep. Police Chief Wayne Gutkowski disputed Holton's version of events to Patch on Friday.

Find out what's happening in Evergreen Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Accorging to Gutkowski, it was Holton who first floated the idea of a deal asking, "If there was anything he could offer."

Gutkowski went on to say that the police officers are not in the business of making deals, they simply enforce already written laws. He added that if individuals produce information or tips to officers that cooperation might be passed along to prosecutors, however it would not get someone a free pass. 

"We don't make deals," Gutkowski said. 

No official investigation has been opened, because as of Friday morning Holton had not filed a complaint with the Evergreen Park Police Department. 

"All we know is what we have seen on TV," Gutkowski said. 

Follow Evergreen Park Patch on Facebook and sign up for breaking news alerts.

Read More Crime News 

  • Felony Charges After Man Speeds Away: Police BlotterChristmas Eve Gas Guzzler, Felony Theft :Police Blotter
  • ARREST WARRANTS: Wanted in Evergreen Park


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Evergreen Park