Gun charge filed in pursuit where officer was struck by squad car

Neighbors watch as Chicago police investigate in the 1800 block of South Drake after an officer was struck by another police vehicle while pursuing a suspect who had thrown a gun out of a car on the West Side, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

A man is accused of throwing a gun out of a car window Thursday, prompting a pursuit in Lawndale in which a Chicago police officer was struck by another officer’s patrol car.

Daniel Dunbar, 32, of Lawndale, is charged with a felony count of illegal gun possession, Chicago police said.

Police were monitoring a “gang funeral” about 1:10 p.m. near the 1800 block of South Drake when they allegedly saw someone toss a gun out of a car, police said in a news conference Thursday.

Daniel Dunbar

Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver took off, police said. One of the officers left his squad car and tried to find the car on foot, but was struck by another officer’s squad car in an alley in the 1800 block of South Drake.

The 4 ¹⁄₂ year CPD veteran was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, police said. Two suspects were arrested at the scene.

Police said Friday morning that Dunbar was charged with throwing a gun out the window, and that the second suspect was released without charging.

Dunbar is due for a bail hearing on Friday.