2 Guns, Over Half-Pound Of Cocaine Found By Evanston Cops

EVANSTON, IL — An Evanston man faces more than a dozen drug and gun related charges after detectives searched his home and a storage unit he rented in Skokie this week, police said.

Eduardo M. Santana, of the 700 block of Custer Avenue, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon when Evanston police carried out a search warrant shortly after 3 p.m. and found an array of drugs inside his fortified house, according to Evanston Police Cmdr. Joseph Dugan.

Dugan said the investigation into Santana's drug operation included undercover purchases of drugs from him at his house and many hours of surveillance of his drug operation.

Police said they discovered 262 grams of cocaine, 15 grams of crack cocaine, nine pills of suspected ecstasy, 1 gram of suspected heroin in Santana's house, which had been outfitted with a reinforced door and security cameras to show a live feed of inside and outside.

The search also turned up a loaded Ruger .45 caliber handgun and $3,831 in cash, Dugan said. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Evanston — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Police carried out a second search warrant the following evening. Around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, detectives searched a storage locker that Santana had rented at the Public Storage in the 8000 block of McCormick Boulevard in Skokie, according to a news release.

A loaded Walther .380 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number was found inside.

Santana was charged with two counts each of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, armed habitual offender and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He faces one count each of three more felonies, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, unlawful use of a weapon with defaced serial number and criminal fortification of a residence. He also was charged with four misdemeanor counts of unlicensed possession a gun or ammunition.

As of Thursday evening, Santana was being held at Cook County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail, according to the Cook County Sheriff.

_{Top photo: Eduardo Santana booking photograph | Evanston PD}