Cannabis, Crack Rocks Found in Men's Vehicle Pulled Over for Seat Belt Violation: COPS

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- A pair of Oak Lawn men passing through Evergreen Park were arrested on drug charges after they were pulled over for a seat belt violation, prosecutors said.

Baylen Clark, 30, and Kurtease Ward, 39, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on charges of possession of a controlled substance. Clark was also charged with violating probation on convictions for retail theft, attempted forgery and identity theft, to which he pleaded guilty to all three in May.

The prosecutor said Evergreen Park police pulled Ward’s vehicle over around 9:27 p.m. July 9 when they noticed that Clark was not wearing a seat belt. According to the complaint, the officer caught a whiff of burnt cannabis in the car. Ward allegedly gave permission to search the vehicle, where officers found a baggie of marijuana in the car.

Officers also found another baggie of cannabis and three rocks on the ground. The rocks tested positive for cocaine, the prosecutor said. Clark allegedly told police the two had smoked pot in the car around a few hours before they were stopped.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Clark was a barber. His pal Ward is roofer. Both live in Oak Lawn.

The judge set Clark’s bail at $30,000. Ward’s bail was set at $25,000. Both are due back in court July 31 in Bridgeview.