Cops: Returning student caught with gun

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Eutimio Rodriguez was among the few students honored for academic excellence on a wall banner at George Washington School, Chicago Public Schools staff said.

But when the 18-year-old returned to his former school Tuesday, he had a loaded gun hidden in an ankle holster, police said.

Rodriguez -- who'd never been arrested before -- told detectives he had the gun for protection and claimed to be the 2010 class valedictorian, police said.

In fact, he graduated third in his class, CPS spokeswoman Monique Bond said.

His school smarts didn't prevent prosecutors from charging him with felony unlawful use of a weapon at a school, or keep police from citing him for having no valid FOID card.

On Wednesday, Judge Israel Desierto ordered him held on $10,000 bail, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton.

Rodriguez, of the 13100 block of Avenue O, allegedly told police he was visiting a teacher. But when he set off a metal detector, security officers detained him, did a "pat down" and found the .38 caliber gun, which was reported stolen from Indiana, police said.

Police allegedly later found that Rodriguez was also carrying rubber gloves and the names and photos of cops who'd recently conducted a drug bust in the Hegewisch neighborhood.