Crime & Safety
Police Seize $8,700, Drugs, Bullets During Traffic Stop
Evanston police arrested a 21-year-old Chicago man after they found $8,700 in cash, "crack" cocaine and marijuana in a locked safe that belonged to him.
Evanston police arrested a 21-year-old Chicago man after they found $8,700 in cash, “crack” cocaine and marijuana in his possession during a traffic stop on Howard Street Saturday afternoon.
Patrol officers stopped a car in the 1100 block of Howard Street at approximately 4:50 p.m. Saturday, April 20, for a minor traffic violation, according to a press release from the police department. When they pulled the car over, a passenger tossed out a bag containing approximately 6 grams of cocaine, and tried to run away from police.
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Officers placed Elemo I. Mohamed, 21, of the 2200 block of West Highland Avenue in Chicago, into custody while they searched the vehicle. Inside, they found a locked safe that belonged to Mohamed and a small amount of cannabis, according to the press release. Believing that contraband materials might be inside the safe, police requested assistance from the Evanston Police canine. The dog conducted a sniff of the safe and indicated that there were narcotics inside, according to police.
After police obtained a search warrant for the safe, they found more than 70 bullets inside along with approximately $8,700 in cash that police believe came from illegal narcotics transactions, police said.
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Mohamed, who is a convicted felon, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon by a convicted felon, both felony offenses. He was also charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, a misdemeanor. He is set to appear in Cook County Circuit Court in Skokie at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 30.
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