Three arrested in Rockford housing project gun investigation

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Police Gang Unit detectives launched operations at the Orton Keyes housing development early Tuesday morning that resulted in the seizure of mass quantities of ammunition, weapons, and the arrests of two teens and an adult.

According to the Rockford Police Department, detectives had been investigating an incident involving multiple teens possessing firearms in the housing project.

Detectives executed search warrants at two residences within the complex, in the 500 block of Ranger Street and the 600 block of Score Street.

Police said that law enforcement surrounded the Ranger Street residence and saw Theron Starks III, 19, open the front door, close it, and then attempt to escape out another exit. Police captured and took him into custody, subsequently finding: a handgun converted into a machinegun via a “switch” device; a drum magazine containing 47 rounds of ammunition, and an additional 40 rounds of ammunition.

Simultaneously, detectives also surrounded the Score Street home and arrested Clidell Stevenson, Jr., 66, and a 17-year-old male. There, police said they recovered a firearm loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition, another loaded with 27 rounds, and more than 240 rounds inside the house.

Starks has been charged with possession of a machine gun, possession of ammunition without a FOID card, resisting arrest, and criminal trespass to property.

Stevenson has been charged with possession of a firearm without a FOID card.

The 17-year-old faces charges of possession of a firearm with no serial number, possession of ammunition without a FOID card, and possession of a firearm without a FOID card.

Starks and Stevenson were booked into the Winnebago County Jail; the teen was held at the Winnebago County Juvenile Detention Center.