Cocaine, Xanax, Weed, Gun Found During DUI Arrests: Blotter

LAKE FOREST, IL — The following information comes from the Lake Forest Police Department and court records as a record of those arrested by police. Readers are reminded that an arrest is not an indication of guilt and criminal charges, which represent merely accusations by the state, are often dropped or reduced. Updated information may be available from the Lake County Circuit Clerk of Courts. All persons named are innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ARRESTS

Veronica Castro-Melgar, 37, of the 1500 block of West Cornelia Avenue in Waukegan, was arrested around 2 a.m. on Sept. 11 following a traffic stop on a Land Rover in the area of Route 41 and Westleigh Road. The officer reported smelling alcohol on the driver, whose license had been expired since February. When she was asked to get out of the car for sobriety test, a glass marijuana pipe fell out on the ground. She would later provide a breath test indicating a blood alcohol content of 0.167, more than twice the legal limit. During a search of her purse, officers found suspected cocaine. Castro-Melgar was charged with possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence, DUI with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more and driving with an expired license. She was also issued citations for possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to give right of way at an intersection, improper lane usage and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.

A 49-year-old Highland Park man was pulled over for speeding 51 mph in a 35 mph zone shortly after midnight on Sept. 13 in the area of Green Bay Road and Briar Lane and subsequently cited for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Luis A. Velez, 19, of the 500 block of Rosehall Lane in Round Lake, was arrested around 2 a.m. on Sept. 15 in the area of Route 41 and Westleigh Road after police got a 911 call about a Buick driving erratically headed north. Officers found the car, witnessed it break several traffic laws and pulled it over. Officers smelled marijuana coming from inside the car, and the driver provided a small amount of cannabis and a pipe to police, along with a bottle of Xanax pills. A search of his vehicle turned up a bottle of liquor, a flask with alcohol and additional drug paraphernalia. Velez was charged with possession of a controlled substance, a felony. He was also cited for possession of under 10 grams of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, minor in possession of alcohol and improper lane usage.

William F. Sinde, 57, of the 1800 block of 104th Street in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, and his brother Victor E. Sinde, 48, of the 900 block of 18th Street in Zion, were both arrested around 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 15 following a traffic stop on Route 41 at Westleigh Road. William was reportedly driving a car recorded on police radar at 80 mph. When police pulled him over, he smelled of alcohol and did not have a driver's license. Officers learned the two had been at a Cubs game at which William had drank six to seven beers. Police searched the car and found suspected cocaine in Victor's possession, as well as a loaded magazine. Officers also found a loaded handgun in the glove compartment. William was charged with aggravated DUI – three or more convictions, aggravated DUI – driving with a suspended or revoked license, DUI, and driving with a suspended or revoked license, as well as ticketed for speeding. Victor was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

A 26-year-old Waukegan woman was arrested around 7:38 a.m. on Sept. 17 near the intersection of Route 60 and Waukegan Road when police pulled over a Kia after looking up its registered owner and learning she had a revoked drivers license. Officers spoke with the driver, who confirmed her license had been revoked and could not provide any proof of insurance. Police also found a small amount of cannabis in her car. She was charged with driving with a revoked license and cited for possession of cannabis and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.

Earlier: Underage Drinking, Smoking Weed At Lake Forest College: Lake Forest Police Blotter, Sept. 7 - Sept. 14

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