COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A Wisconsin man who told police he brought an AK-47 assault rifle, a shotgun and a handgun to Chicago for protection while he and his friends celebrated the New Year was ordered held on $150,000 bond Friday.
Troy Waite, 25, is facing gun and drug charges after his Wednesday afternoon arrest at Will's Northwoods Inn, 3030 N. Racine Ave.
He caught the attention of workers at the Lakeview bar when he tried to use a counterfeit $20 bill, police said.
When police arrived to investigate, Waite told immediately told officers "I have weed on me" and directed them to his front pants pockets, according to court records.
Officers found about 15 grams of pot in Waite's pocket. They also found a loaded semi-automatic Rueger handgun with a defaced serial number and six tinfoil packets of cocaine, according to court documents.
The Secret Service was called to investigate the false currency.
When agents searched Waite's 2012 Mazda sports car, they found two more guns inside: a fully-loaded AK-47 assault rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun.
Police also found a blue water bottle with a Colorado flag on it with 43 more grams of marijuana inside, according to police reports. The marijuana and cocaine had an approximate street value of $930, according to court documents.
Waite later told police the guns were for protection and said he and his friends were in town for the holidays. "We came down here to party for New Year's," Waite told police, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors charged Waite with seven felonies, including unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, and one misdemeanor.
In bond court Friday, Waite stood in front of Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan dressed in a button-down shirt, slacks and a peacoat.
Sullivan ordered Waite, who is originally from Jamaica and now lives in Sun Prairie, Wisc., held on $150,000 bond.
Bar staff at Will's Northwoods Inn told DNAinfo Chicago that Waite did not cause any problems in the bar before trying to use the counterfeit bill to pay for drinks. Waite and three friends came to the bar about 1 p.m. Wednesday to watch football with other Wisconsin fans.
"They were extremely calm," said bar manager Kevin Kruse. "Nice disposition; very nice people. They were very quiet. Even when the police arrived, they admitted what they had, turned around and put their hands on their backs.
"It goes to show, you never know about people."
Contributing: Serena Dai
