Kilo Of Cocaine Seized With Help Of Police Dog Groot During I-80 Traffic Stop: Grundy Sheriff

MORRIS, IL — A Riverdale man faces felony drug charges after he was discovered with more than a kilo of cocaine during a traffic stop Tuesday, the Grundy County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.

Just after 1 p.m. Tuesday, a deputy assigned to the Proactive Unit saw a white Mitsubishi SUV committing multiple traffic violations on I-80 westbound. The deputy stopped the driver.

During the course of the investigation, K9 Officer Groot and his handler arrived at the scene. Groot was deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, the sheriff's office said.

A search of the SUV turned up approximately 1,040 grams (2.293 pounds) of suspected cocaine and approximately 90 grams of suspected cannabis. Deputies also recovered documents and other evidence consistent with narcotics trafficking.

The driver—identified as Maurice Merrell—was taken into custody and charged with possession of intent to deliver cocaine (over 900 grams) and possession with intent to deliver cannabis (30-500 grams).

Merrell was transported to the Grundy County Jail where he was be held pending a pre-trial release hearing.