Wheeling Man Nabbed For Drug Trafficking With Kid In Car: Police

WHEELING, IL — Following an investigation that lasted for several months, a Wheeling man was arrested Thursday in connection with drug trafficking, as well as endangering a child he had traveling with him during the bust. Javier Franco, 26, of the 300 block of Oak Creek Drive, Wheeling, is accused of eight felony charges and two misdemeanors, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The charges, reviewed with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, are:

• armed violence (class X felony)
• unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (class X felony)
• 3 counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (class X felonies)
• 3 Counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon (class 2 felonies)
• 2 counts of child endangerment (class A misdemeanors)

Police said due to the crimes occurring in multiple counties, the case will be prosecuted by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

Franco remains held in the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing Friday morning.

According to police, the LCSO's special investigations group, which is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area-funded tasked force, conducted the narcotics' investigation. Police said they discovered Franco, who was the target of the investigation, was traveling to deliver drugs to an individual in Lake County on Thursday.

SIG detectives, along with Vernon Hills police, conducted a stop on Franco's vehicle in Vernon Hills. Zeus, a LCSO K-9, was summoned to the traffic stop to sniff around Franco’s vehicle. Subsequently, Zeus gave a positive indication for the presence of drugs in the vehicle.

Detectives searched the vehicle and reportedly located over 85 grams of cocaine and found Franco was in possession of a 9mm pistol. Franco was traveling with his small child when pulled over. The child was cared for by detectives until a family member arrived to take them.

Police also conducted a search warrant at Franco’s home during the traffic stop. Detectives reportedly located another 550 grams of cocaine and two additional firearms.

"This is yet another impressive investigation and apprehension of a drug trafficker operating their business in Lake County," Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said in a news release statement. "SIG, which is a collaboration of countywide and federal law enforcement, supported by HIDTA, took another three illegally possessed firearms off the street along with over a pound of cocaine during this operation"

Police said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Chicago Field Division and Homeland Security Investigations, both SIG member agencies, were a "significant part" of the investigation. The LCSO also said the Vernon Hill and Wheeling police department assisted.

The Illinois Department of Child and Family Services was notified of the incident, due to the child being with Franco while he was delivering drugs, while armed with a firearm, according to police.