Cops Hold Man’s Jaws Open When He Tries To Swallow Baggies of Pot: Report

OAK LAWN, IL -- Oak Lawn police had to force open the jaws of a documented member of the Black P Stones as he tried to swallow bags of cannabis while under arrest for retail theft, reports said.

Police said they observed a vehicle driving erratically with no headlights around 9:09 p.m. Nov. 18 through the Home Depot parking lto at 4120 W. 95th St. The plainclothes officers followed the driver to the adjacent Target, where two people, later identified as Shani Sparks, 40, and Winston Delaney III, 31, exited the vehicle.

About fifteen minutes later, detectives saw Sparks and Delaney leaving the store and walking back to their vehicle. Police said Delaney was now wearing a maroon jacket that he wasn’t wearing before. Delaney also reportedly pulled out some items that he concealed inside his jacket.

The car exited the Target lot and headed toward 95th Street, turning eastbound without activating its headlights. Detectives pulled the vehicle over in the 4000 block of 95th St., where they observed a Chore Boy and plastic baggies possibly used for packaging narcotics in plain view. There were also packages of saw blades by Delaney’s feet and Reese’s candy and Slim Jims in his lap, reports said.

Delaney was asked to exit the vehicle. Police said Sparks denied being in the Home Depot lot and that they had just left Target. As police were talking to Sparks, they noticed the maroon jacket that Delaney was wearing still had tags. Police said he was unable to provide a receipt.

Police also asked Sparks to exit the vehicle. As she got out, the detectives noticed a crack pipe in the interior door handle on the driver’s side. Believing that a retail theft may have occurred, Delaney was placed in handcuffs, reports said.

According to the charges, while speaking to Delaney, detectives noticed a bulge in his cheek. Police could also detect a faint odor of cannabis emanating from Delaney. When police asked what was in his mouth, Delaney began to chew vigorously.

Due to the alleged crack pipe spotted inside the vehicle, detectives were concerned that Delaney might be trying to swallow crack rocks, reports said. Police held him against the trunk of the car and ordered him to spit out whatever was in his mouth because it could endanger his health, reports said.

Delaney kept repeating, “it’s just weed, it’s just weed.” According to the report, one officer held Delaney’s bottom jaw, while the other officer held the top of his jaw. Police could see multiple small baggies in Delaney's mouth, which he continued trying to swallow.

Detectives requested a supervisor who came to the scene. Delaney eventually spit out four or five ziplock baggies of suspected cannabis out of his mouth. He was taken into custody and transported to the Oak Lawn police station.

At the police station, Sparks told police she saw Delaney taking the saw blades at Home Depot and then trying to return them for store credit. As for the crack pipe, Sparks said she had taken it away from her aunt earlier that day, reports said.

Target loss prevention officers confirmed that Delaney had allegedly stolen the jacket valued at $59. Further, store security told the cops that Sparks had taken three pieces of jewelry and then tried to return them for store credit. The Slim Jims and candy were also reported stolen. Both incidents were allegedly captured on store security video.

Home Depot security told police that Sparks’ actions inside the store were suspicious and that she set off the security alarm leaving. She also allegedly tried to use an invalid gift card. Sparks was charged with one count of retail theft and ticketed for driving without headlights. Her next court date is Dec 21 in Bridgeview.

Police said Delaney admitted to smoking crack and heroin earlier in the day. The police report also noted that Delaney was a documented member of the Black P Stone nation and has an extensive criminal history.
He was charged with two counts of resisting arrest and retail theft. Bail for Delaney was set for $30,000. His next court hearing is Dec. 12 in Bridgeview.