Iowa man, 32, arrested for bringing arsenal of weapons to Chicago hotel room proposes to his girlfriend in front of police station immediately after making bond
An Iowa man arrested for bringing weapons to his Chicago hotel room bonded out of jail - only to drop to his knee and pop the question to his waiting girlfriend.
Keegan Casteel, 32, was arrested on Sunday after a cleaner at the W Hotel found a rifle with a laser sight, a handgun and ammunition in his 12th story room which overlooked a Lake Michigan beach during the July Fourth weekend celebrations.
After three nights behind bars, Casteel, of Ankeny, Iowa, walked out of jail around 5.30pm Wednesday after posting the $1,000 bond of his $10,000 bail required for his release from custody.
His girlfriend was waiting to pick him up outside the 18th District headquarters.
But when he approached her, he pulled out a ring, got down on one and knee and proposed.
His girlfriend seemed as surprised by the proposal as nearby press and police, but sad yes, after shedding some tears and sharing a kiss with her new fiancé.
Casteel didn't comment to a reporter immediately following his release.
Keegan Casteel proposed to his girlfriend right after being released from the 18th District police headquarters in Chicago on Wednesday
Keegan, of Ankeny, Iowa, was in custody in Chicago after police found a rifle with a laser sight in a hotel room that overlooks a Lake Michigan beach during the July Fourth weekend
His girlfriend was waiting to pick him up outside the 18th District headquarters. But when he approached her, he pulled out a ring, got down on one and knee and proposed
His girlfriend seemed as surprised by the proposal as nearby press and police, but sad yes, after shedding some tears and sharing a kiss with her new fiancé
Cops found a .308 caliber semi-automatic rifle that was not engraved with a serial number - and had a round in the chamber.
Police also found a high-power scope with laser-sight attachments, five magazines and a .45 caliber handgun, prosecutors said.
The weapons were found in the window sill of Room 1208 on the 12th floor of the hotel after receiving a tip from a housekeeping employee, according to WBBM-TV.
Authorities said that the rifle had been left in 'in a very suspicious position' and that the area was crowded with Independence Day revelers.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot praised the hotel worker for reporting Casteel's 'arsenal,' WBBM-TV reported.
'I want to thank the hotel worker who spotted this individual from Iowa who decided it was a good idea to come to our city with an arsenal, an AR-15, and five loaded magazines which he had perched up on the windowsill,' Lightfoot said.
'Thank God for that hotel worker, who saw something, and said something, and I believe averted disaster.'
Chicago police found Keegan Casteel, 32, (left and right) with the two weapons in a W Hotel room on July 4
The hotel room reportedly overlooked Ohio Street Beach in the 600 block of North Lake Shore Drive - which was crowded for Fourth of July revelry
Casteel, 32, was arrested on Sunday after a cleaner at the W Hotel found a rifle with a laser sight, a handgun and ammunition in his 12th story room
Police Superintendent David Brown says the hotel staff member 'likely prevented a tragedy from happening.'
It was not immediately clear why Casteel had weapons in his hotel room and if he had planned to use them.
'There is no previous criminal history of this person nor any other issues in our federal databases, but obviously very concerning given the position of the W Hotel to Navy Pier,' Brown said.
'Our joint terrorism task force officers debriefed, interviewed this person along with a companion, and we are continuing this investigation,' the superintendent said.
Prosecutors said Casteel has an Iowa gun permit, WLS-TV reported. However, Judge David Navarro told Casteel 'clearly, we are not in Iowa.'
According to the Illinois State Police Firearm Services Bureau, Illinois residents must have a Firearm Owners Identification card, which is issued by the agency in order to legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Casteel leaves jail at the 18th District police headquarters in Chicago on Wednesday shortly before proposing
Cops said Casteel has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a loaded weapon without a FOID card.
A judge set his bond at $10,000 and ruled that Castell can return home while awaiting trial but must appear for all hearings, the next of which is scheduled for July 14.
Casteel was also ordered to turn in all of his weapons, outlets reported.
The outlet reported that Casteel owns an auto repair shop in Des Moines.
The W Hotel has directed comment to the Chicago Police Department, though a sign in the hotel's window spotted by NBC Chicago notes that guns are not allowed on the property.