Police charged a DeKalb man Thursday with illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun and shotgun shells in the latest of an apparent chain of gang-linked incidents.

Responding to an anonymous tip, DeKalb Police charged Tony A. Blanco, 22, 347 Dodge Ave., with unlawful use of a weapon and possession of firearm ammunition without an identification card. Blanco’s bail was set at $50,000 and he is being held at the DeKalb County Jail.

“He said he had it for self-protection. He was expecting a problem with another gang-member,” DeKalb Police Chief Don Berke said.

Blanco is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 26. When police arrested Blanco, they found him with the loaded sawed-off shotgun, Berke said.

Although the gun’s shells were filled with BBs, Berke said it was a dangerous weapon. “This kind of gun could do a number on someone if fired at a close range,” he said.

This is the second sawed-off shotgun seized in the past month by DeKalb Police from someone in the community, Berke said. “There are a lot of guns out in the community for illegal purposes,” he said.

At the time of the arrest, Blanco, who is employed as a dry wall installer, was out on bond for a July 16 charge of unlawful possession of a firearm, Berke said.

Apparently, DeKalb’s gang problems aren’t over yet. “DeKalb has a significant gang population, and conflict between street gangs is imminent at this time,” Berke said.

But Berke said if the police and the community work together, he is confident DeKalb’s gang problem can be solved.