An Illinois man is facing several serious criminal charges after a traffic stop with Illinois police. With the help of a drug dog, police claim they found drugs and weapons inside of his vehicle, which led to his arrest and subsequent drug charges. Although his bail was originally set for $150,000, he was able to post $15,000 in cash and was freed.
The traffic stop occurred on Dec. 22, 2017, although it is not clear why the attending officers chose to pull the 28-year-old man over. A police dog was with the officers at the time, and they claim it alerted them to the possible presence of illegal substances. Police searched the car and allegedly found individual bags that may have contained cocaine and methamphetamine. Drug paraphernalia and more possible drugs were found underneath his seat.
Police say that they also found $2,743 in the vehicle and on his person, and that he had a pistol in his pocket. He did not have a conceal carry card, but police did not say whether he had a license for the gun. The driver supposedly told police that he was on the way to deliver both the drugs and the money to another man, and that the gun was for protection should anything go badly.
The drug charges filed against him are for possessing cocaine and methamphetamine in amounts greater than 15 grams. He is also charged with armed violence and the unlawful use of a weapon. Illinois criminal law treats these types of allegations quite severely, and potential consequences can include years behind bars and steep fines, not to mention a criminal record that may impact employment opportunities. Defendants can usually minimize these charges with swift and timely action regarding their criminal defense plans.
Source: The Telegraph, “Man found driving with loaded gun faces drug, weapons charges“, Sanford J. Schmidt, Jan. 7, 2018
