Two Men Detained with Alleged Drugs After Police Chase
Dec. 6, 2018
Two men in Illinois have been detained on charges related to drug possession. The men were detained as a result of a surveillance operation set up by police after a neighborhood watch group in Kincaid alerted police to alleged suspicious activity. The Kincaid Police Department set up surveillance at the location when they observed a vehicle that was driving erratically. The police say they attempted to pull over the driver in a routine traffic stop when the driver of the vehicle sped off.
Police chased the vehicle to the city of Jeiseyville where one man exited the vehicle holding two backpacks. The man who exited the vehicle reportedly ran away, and the driver of the vehicle drove off. The 34-year-old driver was eventually stopped and detained by police, and the 35-year-old man who ran away on foot was found with the help of a citizen. Along with Kincaid police, the Illinois State Police Task Force, Christian County deputies, Morrisonville Police and Taylorville police were all involved in helping detain the two individuals.
The police allegedly found 9 ounces of methamphetamines in the backpacks along with several cellphones and other drug-related paraphernalia. The 34-year-old man was charged with aggravated fleeing and alluding and drug possession with the intent to distribute. The 35-year-old man was charged with drug possession with intent to distribute. The charges carry a maximum of 70 years in prison.
Serious drug offenses can carry strict consequences that include time in prison and heavy fines. Many of these cases rely on the physical drug evidence in order to prosecute. Citizens have the right to reasonable search and seizure, which means that police must follow the proper steps in order to search for and seize any drugs that are found. A lawyer may be able to determine if the proper steps were followed and if a search warrant was properly obtained prior to the search. In this case, a lawyer may be able to show that the men’s backpacks were searched improperly. This might lead to the evidence being inadmissible and the charges being reduced or dismissed.
Source: FOX Illinois, “2 alleged Taylorville drug dealers arrested after police chase“, 12/04/2018