Many Chicago-area residents know firsthand how seriously local police take any instance of drug-related activity. Whether they catch a person selling drugs, using drugs, or find drugs in their car or home, police will not hesitate to make an arrest. If you find yourself in this situation, it can be tempting to try to make the situation better for yourself by hiding something incriminating. Doing this, however, often leads to even more charges against a person.
In fact, one Geneva resident recently found this out when he attempted to hide drugs and drug paraphernalia from police. The situation started when a friend of the Geneva man was taken to a hospital after someone called the police saying he had been locked in a coffee shop bathroom for a long time. When police found the man in the bathroom, they also found a needle and bags of suspected heroin. The responding officer held make sure the man in the bathroom got treatment and then returned. It was then that he noticed some of the heroin was no longer there.
After someone tipped police off that it was the friend of the victim’s, police ordered him to remove his shoes and socks. The man had tried to hide the heroin in his shoes. Now, in addition to drug possession charges, he is facing charges of obstruction of justice/destroying evidence — a felony.
What we can learn from this situation is that trying to protect yourself by hiding evidence usually doesn’t get the intended result. Being charged with a drug crime can be scary and overwhelming, but it is important to know that there are people who can help you. Everyone accused of a crime is allowed to work with an attorney who can explain your options for moving forward.
Source: CBS Chicago, “Man Faces Drug Charges After Friend Found Locked In Starbucks Restroom,” June 13, 2013
