Party Bus Has Cocaine, Alprazolam Pills, Ecstasy: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL —On the night of Fourth of July, Joliet police arrested the operator of a Joliet party bus and Thomas Lopez, his passenger, in connection with several illegal drugs discovered inside the party bus, according to Joliet police.

Thomas Lopez, who has been the subject of other Joliet party bus arrest incidents this year, was booked into the Will County Jail on three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of obstructing a peace officer.

The party bus driver, Joshua Cargle, 36, of Joliet, was released on an I-Bond on charges of obstructing a peace officer and driving while license revoked.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English outlined the following events leading to the Fourth of July traffic stop:

At 10:54 p.m., officers stopped a Ford E450 party-style bus near Kelly Avenue and Ingalls Avenue for disobeying a stop sign. Police said Cargle refused to provide his driver’s license or identify himself, despite numerous commands from Joliet police to do so.

Cargle exited the vehicle and was placed into custody without incident.

Lopez was identified as a passenger in the vehicle. Upon search of the party bus, officers recovered suspected cocaine, alprazolam pills and ecstasy.

Police said Lopez was placed into custody following a brief struggle, and then he was taken to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department after complaining of a pre-existing injury.

He was released from the hospital and brought to the Will County Adult Detention Facility at 4:39 a.m. Wednesday. Lopez is from the 100 block of Joliet's St. Joseph Avenue.

As for Cargle, he was also cited with disobeying a stop sign and failure to signal, and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

Related Joliet Patch crime stories:

Party Bus Intentionally Rams Vehicle Outside Joliet Bar: 22 Charges

Fireworks Arrest Made After Harrah's Casino Hotel Incident