Berwyn Police Chief's Son Arrested on Heroin Charge

The son of the Berwyn police chief was jailed on a heroin charge.

John Ritz, 18, was arrested by the Lockport police Saturday. He was booked into the Will County jail on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and remains in custody. Ritz’s bond was set at $20,000.

Ritz’s father, James Ritz, was appointed chief of the Berwyn Police Department in 2010. The Ritz family lives in Lockport, according to court records.

Ritz was riding in a car that was pulled over on Farrell Road shortly after 5:30 p.m., said Lockport Police Chief Terry Lemming. A police dog was at the scene, Lemming said, and a substance believed to be heroin was found in the car. The substance was sent to a state police lab for testing.

A needle was also reportedly found in the car.

Along with Ritz, the man driving the car, Jacob Ward, 23, of Joliet, was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance, Lemming said.

Chief Ritz did not respond to calls for comment.

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