Malik Rashaan Gross, 30, of Gary, has been charged after police allege he discarded a Polymer P80 9mm handgun before officers recovered methamphetamine and cocaine from his person during an arrest.
According to court documents, Gary police officers were conducting routine patrol around 7:36 p.m. on May 4 near the Tarry Town Food Mart in the 2000 block of Clark Road in Gary when they observed several people loitering outside the business. As officers approached, police allege Gross walked to the side of the building before returning moments later.
Court records state officers detained the group while conducting pat-downs for officer safety. Police allege another officer located a green Polymer P80 9mm handgun in a flowerpot where Gross had just walked. Gross allegedly denied the handgun belonged to him.
According to the affidavit, investigators reviewed surveillance video from the business that allegedly showed Gross walking alongside the building and quickly tossing the handgun into the flowerpot moments before officers recovered it. Police allege the handgun was loaded with several live rounds in a 17-round magazine and did not have a serial number.
Court documents state that during a search following Gross’s arrest, officers allegedly found four plastic baggies, each containing three pills that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, along with a separate bag containing approximately 2.5 grams of suspected crack cocaine that field-tested positive for cocaine. Police allege the methamphetamine had a combined weight of approximately 5.7 grams.
According to court records, Gross was out on bond and had multiple felony cases pending at the time of his arrest.
Charges filed June 10, 2026:
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon — Level 4 Felony
Possession of Methamphetamine (5–10 grams, enhancing circumstance) — Level 4 Felony
Possession of Cocaine (enhancing circumstance) — Level 5 Felony
Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun (prior felony conviction within 15 years) — Level 5 Felony
Pending cases:
Filed Dec. 4, 2024 (Lake County):
Attempted Murder — Level 1
Felony
Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance (at least 28 grams) — Level 2 Felony
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon — Level 4 Felony
Criminal Recklessness Committed with a Deadly Weapon — Level 6 Felony
Pointing a Firearm at Another — Level 6 Felony
Filed April 9, 2025 (Lake County):
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon — Level 4 Felony
Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun (3 counts) — Level 5
Felony
Theft of a Firearm — Level 5 Felony.
