East Chicago Man Facing Gun And Drug Charges After Gary Traffic Stop
Breyaun Evans,23,of East Chicago, is facing multiple felony firearm and drug charges after police say a traffic stop in Gary led to the discovery of a machine-gun-converted firearm, marijuana, and tablets that tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to court documents, an officer was working patrol February 17, 2026, when he observed a black Chevy Impala disregard a traffic signal near 5th Avenue and Burr Street and paced the vehicle traveling about 75 mph in a posted 40 mph zone before initiating a stop. Police recognized Evans as the driver from prior law enforcement contacts and were aware he was wanted in relation to an unrelated vehicle pursuit.
Police reported observing a firearm on the floorboard by Evans’s leg and detecting the odor of raw marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Evans admitted there were bags of marijuana inside. Officers located a baggie with four tablets in the ash-tray cupholder and two baggies of suspected marijuana in the back seat.
Court documents state the recovered firearm was a .223 AR pistol affixed with a machine-gun conversion device, which officers reported would make the firearm fully automatic. Evans allegedly volunteered the firearm was only “burst,” which officers noted still qualifies as a machine gun because more than one round can be fired with a single trigger pull.
Police reported the green leafy substance weighed about 9.5 grams and tested positive for marijuana, while the four tablets field-tested positive for both methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Court records also indicated Evans had a prior marijuana possession conviction on November 28, 2023.
Charges filed February 18,2026:
• Possession of a Machine Gun — F5 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine (<5g) Enhancing Circumstance — F5 Felony
• Possession of a Narcotic Drug (Between 5 and 10 g) — F5 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine (<5g) — F6 Felony
• Possession of a Narcotic Drug (<5g) — F6 Felony
• Possession of Marijuana (Prior Drug Conviction) — A Misdemeanor
• Possession of Marijuana — B Misdemeanor
