By Paul Biasco
Chicago Daily Herald
ANTIOCH, Il. — During a routine traffic stop, Antioch Police Sgt. Craig Somerville’s memory got the best of a self-admitted gang member who uses a host of aliases, police said Monday.
“I walked up to the vehicle and he was looking away from me in the passenger seat,” Somerville said.
“I told him to look at me and I recognized him right away.”
John Hapkowskyj, 38 of the 500 block of Plumtree Drive in Antioch, was wanted on a Lake County warrant for parole violation.
But Somerville knew the man after seeing him previously arrested for “everything under the sun,” he said.
Hapkowskyj tried to trick him during the Sunday night traffic stop by giving a false name and birth date, Somerville said.
Even so, Somerville knew who he was — regardless of the 15 aliases the self-admitted gang member uses.
Police found Hapkowskyj in possession of less than 15 grams of suspected cocaine, a digital scale and more than $1,000 in small bills, Sommerville said.
He is in the Lake County jail for violating his parole.
Hapkowskyj also faces two counts of obstructing justice because he gave police a false name and birth date, and a felony charge for possession of cocaine.
He could face a prison sentence of one to three years if found guilty.
Hapkowskyj appeared in bond court Monday and the judge set his bond at $50,000.
The driver of the vehicle received a traffic violation warning and was released.
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