The vast majority of drug arrests fall along within a very limited scope. The substances seized are usually marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines or prescription drugs. A recent arrest, however, had Illinois police transporting an unusual substance back to the lab for testing. After the results were in, the man who was targeted in the drug raid will face a court under charges of drug possession and unlawful manufacture of drugs.
When police entered the man’s Island Lake home, they were there to execute an arrest warrant for the man’s roommate. While searching the house, officers noted 12 cactus plants growing on a shelf in the home’s basement. The plants were said to have unusual “buttons” growing on the surface. The plants were sent for testing, and the results suggest that they are peyote.
The search also led to the seizure of syringes and an unspecified amount of heroin. Another resident of the home was also arrested, and faces charges of possession of a hypodermic syringe, possession of drug paraphernalia and drug possession. It is unclear how police determined which items within the home belonged to which resident before making the arrests.
As these drug possession cases moves forward, both of the individuals who were arrested will structure their own response to the charges they face. Part of that process will involve a careful analysis of the evidence collected by police, and the manner in which the search of the home was conducted. It is too early to know how this case will be resolved, but for anyone in Illinois who is facing drug charges, having a solid defense strategy is crucial to obtaining a favorable outcome.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Man arrested for possession of hallucinogenic plant peyote: police”, Amanda Marrazzo, Dec. 24, 2014
