Hotel Worker ‘Averted Disaster’ Finding Loaded Rifle And Scope In Guest’s Room

[2DogsBarking]

Hotel Worker ‘Averted Disaster’ Finding Loaded Rifle And Scope In Guest’s Room Overlooking Ohio Street Beach; Keegan Casteel Faces Weapons Charges

I'm in the Chicago area working - odd none of the Chicago news outlets have reports - found these out of Iowa news feeds (UPDATE - Dramatic Chicago link below):

https://abcnews.go.com/US/iowa...om/story?id=78693737
An Iowa man has been arrested after a rifle and ammunition were found near a window inside his hotel room in downtown Chicago on the Fourth of July, officials said.

A member of the cleaning staff at the W Hotel alerted authorities about firearms he found "in a very suspicious position inside one of the rooms" on Sunday, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said Tuesday.

https://www.kcci.com/article/a...-hotel-room/36943025

CHICAGO —
Chicago police said an Ankeny man has been arrested after staff found a rifle inside his hotel room.

Chicago police say 32-year-old Keegan Casteel was arrested without incident Sunday evening. Officers recovered the rifle and another gun from the 600 block of North Lake Shore Drive at the W Hotel.
Police said cleaning staff found the rifle on the windowsill.

“Our joint terrorism task force officers debrief interviewed this person along with a companion and we are continuing this investigation. The circumstances are this, the employee alerted us we made contact with this person, made the arrest, began interviews, and also conducting gun tracing of both the rifle and the handgun for further investigation. There's no previous history of this person nor any other issues in our federal data bases, but obviously very concerning given the position of the W Hotel to Navy Pier," said Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown.

Castell is charged with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

He's set to appear in court Tuesday.



OK - in Chicago news also:
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2...e-handgun-navy-pier/

[HanzMcFeely]

“Castell is charged with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon”

How? He didnt do anything beyond possessing (what sounds to be) legally obtained firearms and leaving them in plain sight in the room he paid for. Granted, any smart person would have put up the do not disturb sign on the door...i cant fault him for having a round chambered and mags close by while staying in Chiraq...

It also sounds like he was traveling long distance. Wouldnt this fall under FOPA?

Hotel staff should have just minded their own damn business.

[Daycrawler]

*Castell is charged with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon*

How? He didnt do anything beyond possessing (what sounds to be) legally obtained firearms and leaving them in plain sight in the room he paid for.

That must me some legal jargon for possession. This guy will hang, while other criminals are set free. Also I do not agree with what was done, however he was a fool for leaving his stuff out. Furthermore he may have had some bad intentions, and he was not able to follow through. I would rather read this story the way it went down, rather than another guy shooting into a crowd.

[Gman106]

He must be white. This non event earns a headline while blacks slaughter each other in the streets daily. I don't even understand what law he broke.

[WoollyPullover]

No way the FBI put him up to this, they*d have to wait until after he shot people.

probably his get home bag

[Sgt.K]

It also sounds like he was traveling long distance. Wouldnt this fall under FOPA?

If getting out of your car at the airport to get on the plane counts as an interruption to your trip (3rd circuit case), surely stopping overnight would as well.

IANAL
YMMV
etc...

[DK23]

If getting out of your car at the airport to get on the plane counts as an interruption to your trip (3rd circuit case), surely stopping overnight would as well.

IANAL
YMMV
etc...

So if you move from PA to CA you have to drive without stopping to sleep? Seems a little dangerous.

[steve_010]

So if you move from PA to CA you have to drive without stopping to sleep? Seems a little dangerous.

No, you need to not get caught. That's much less dangerous.

[Sgt.K]

So if you move from PA to CA you have to drive without stopping to sleep? Seems a little dangerous.

Sure, you can stop to sleep. You just can't go rambling about while at that stop, you should just continue your trip once you're done sleeping.

BTW, I'm just playing devil's advocate here, given - again - that FOPA is a defense, not a legality. Cops can stop you if they want and get you a nice room at the grey bar hotel while you're waiting to claim your defense in court. And they can seize your gun(s) in the meantime.

Of course, national reciprocity, or <gasp> Constitutional carry would make this all mostly moot.

[ShadeRabbit]

Just strange, don't know what to make of it.

Iowa man charged with having guns in Chicago hotel proposes to woman after bonding out of jail

https://www.fox29.com/news/iowa-man-...hDYJLNQlZ8x-40