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Cash In Hand, Man Tries Bribing Cop Who Arrested Him The Week Before: Court

 Lamont Ross, 23, is charged with bribing a public official and violating conditions of bond.
Lamont Ross, 23, is charged with bribing a public official and violating conditions of bond.
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DNAinfo; Chicago Police Department

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A man facing gun charges tried to bribe a Chicago Police officer who pulled him over for running a stop sign Sunday, prosecutors said.

That officer happened to be the same exact officer who arrested Lamont Ross, 23, a week prior for illegally carrying a loaded gun, Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said during a bond hearing Tuesday.

Ross was free on $100,000 bond Sunday evening when he recognized the officer who pulled him over, took out a wad of cash and asked, "How much is it gonna cost you not to go to court?" according to court records.

Police promptly arrested Ross for bribery and found a bag of marijuana in his car, prosecutors said.

Ross, of the 1800 block of South Avers Avenue, now faces charges of bribing a public official, possession of marijuana, failing to stop at a stop sign, driving on a suspended or revoked license and violating conditions of bond — in addition to his pending gun case.

In that case, Ross is accused of running from police while carrying a 9mm handgun loaded with six rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber, Scaduto said. Bail was set at $100,000, and Ross posted $10,000 (the 10-percent payment needed to go free).

If Ross is convicted in both the gun and bribery cases, prosecutors said, his sentences will have to be served consecutively, not concurrently, according to state law.

Ross was driving on a suspended license when police saw him roll through a stop sign near Lexington Street and Central Park Avenue about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report.

When police pulled over Ross, he couldn't provide a driver's license — only a state ID, court records show.

The officer who had arrested Ross on the gun charge recognized Ross, Scaduto said. Ross was slated to appear in court on that case the following morning.

That's when Ross allegedly coughed, pulled out $156 in cash and asked the officer what it would take to skip court date in the pending gun case, court records show.

Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan on Tuesday set bail in the bribery case at $100,000.

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