A 27-year-old Illinois man was taken into custody on felony drug charges on April 3 after his vehicle was pulled over for a routine traffic violation. The man’s 35-year-old female companion was also taken into custody and has been charged with possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia. A Cook County judge ordered the man to be held without bond and set the woman’s bond at $10,000.
Officers say that they pulled the man’s vehicle over near the intersection of West 93rd Street and Pulaski Road in Evergreen Park after observing it disobeying a red light. As they approached the vehicle, officers claim that its two occupants made furtive gestures and appeared to be trying to conceal items in the center console and under the seats. Officers say that the man continued to act suspiciously and repeatedly put his hands in his pockets when he was asked to exit his vehicle.
Police say that they discovered four foil packets in the car containing a substance that was allegedly later identified as heroin. A fifth foil packet containing what is thought to be heroin is said to have been found in one of the man’s pockets when he was being processed at a nearby police facility. According to reports, a records check indicates that the man is serving probation for identity theft and burglary charges and has a drug case pending in Chicago.
Police officers are permitted to conduct searches without first obtaining a warrant when they have good reason to believe that evidence of criminal activity will be discovered. Experienced criminal defense attorneys may advise their clients to avoid behavior that could provide police with probable cause to conduct more vigorous investigations and keep all items that may arouse suspicion out of plain sight.
Source: The Evergreen Park Patch, “Heroin, Drug Paraphernalia Recovered In Traffic Stop: Cops”, Lorraine Swanson, April 5, 2018