Motel Guest Hid Pot, Scale Under Mattress: Prosecutor

Photo: Justin Coenic, 25 | Cook County Sheriff

An Alsip man was arrested after police found pot and ammo in his motel room, prosecutors said in court on Wednesday.

Alsip police went to the D-lux Budget Motel, 12340 S. Cicero Ave., after receiving a call about a guest around 1:49 p.m. Jan. 19.

When they knocked on the guest’s door, officers said they could smell the odor of pot wafting into the hall.

A 25-year-old man, identified as Justin Coenic, gave officers permission to search his room, who found two large bags of suspected cannabis and a scale under the mattress, prosecutors said.

Officers found another bag of what appeared to be cannabis under the bed, as well as a holster and two boxes of live ammunition, according to the charges.

Prosecutors said that Coenic did not have a FOID card for the ammunition. Police did not find a gun in the room. The total weight of the pot was 128 grams.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Coenic was a lifelong resident of the area and a graduate of Shepherd High School.

Bail was set at $30,000. Coenic is due back in court in Bridgeview on Feb. 10.