Cousins Nabbed In Traffic Stop After Buying Heroin: Cops

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- Two Oak Lawn cousins were arrested when police found heroin in their car during a traffic stop, prosecutors said. Brad Wnek, 43, and Brian Wnek, 32, appeared handcuffed together before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on charges of possession of a controlled substance. The men were also slapped with a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Evergreen Park police were patrolling the 4200 block of Southwest Highway around 5:30 p.m. May 9, when the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Brian Wnek, made an illegal lane change, the prosecutor said. Brian gave police permission to search the vehicle. Police found six baggies of heroin and fentanyl weighing 1.28 grams in the car, along with a straw that had heroin residue, according to the charges.

Brian allegedly told the cops that he and Brad along with another man drove to 71st Street and Damen Avenue to buy heroin for $60.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Brian is a Brother Rice High School graduate and has a finance degree. He works full time at a fast food restaurant. Brad graduated from Richards High School.

Both men were released on $30,000 I bonds and were ordered to weekly random drug testing. The cousins are due back in court May 39 in Bridgeview.