1 A.M. Traffic Stop Leads to Meth, Weapon Seizures
The seizure of one-half pound of meth and a 20-gauge shotgun resulted from a Feb. 1 traffic stop on the Near East Side of Aurora.
Just before 1 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1, an Aurora Police Department patrol officer was traveling east on Galena Boulevard behind a car that had a license plate that was completely obstructed, according to an APD report.
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
The officer pulled the car over at Fourth Street and came in contact with the driver, Jesus E. Duran-Contreras, 23, of the 28W600 block of Barnes Ave., West Chicago. When the officer ran a warrant check on Duran-Contreras, he discovered Duran-Contreras had outstanding warrants out of DuPage and Kane counties for failing to appear in court on possession of meth charges.
One of the backseat passengers in the vehicle, Vladimir R. Fernandez, 30, of the 500 block of Irving St., Joliet, was also found to be wanted by the Illinois State Police for failing to appear on a traffic charge.
After placing the pair under arrest and while conducting an inventory search of the vehicle, officers allegedly found methamphetamine in a bag on the back seat. Police said they were able to tie the drugs, which had a street value of just under $22,000, to Duran-Contreras.
A shot gun and ammunition found in the trunk were connected to Fernandez.
Upon conferring with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, Duran-Contreras was charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Fernandez was charged with a single count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.
Both men are being held in the Kane County Jail. Duran-Contreras’s bail is $100,000; Fernandez’ is $50,000.
Two Aurora women, ages 26 and 23, who were also in the vehicle at the time of the stop, were released after being interviewed.
The charges are not proof of guilt. Duran-Contreras and Fernandez are considered innocent and are entitled to fair trials at which it is the burden of the State to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
SOURCE: Aurora Police Department news release
