Pot Brownies, Cocaine, Weed Found On Romeoville Man: Cops

ROMEOVILLE, IL — A Romeoville man was arrested in Riverside after being stopped for driving in a lane used for parked vehicle on Jan. 5. Police said cannabis, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and brownies with cannabis in them were all found after a search of the man's vehicle. Ponciano Martinez, 40, of the 400 block of Julia Drive, was charged with felony possession of cocaine, felony possession of cannabis, felony manufacture and delivery of cocaine and cannabis, and felony aggravated driving while license revoked.

According to police, an officer spotted Martinez's vehicle traveling in the 3300 block of Harlem at 1:03 p.m. Jan. 5. The vehicle was driving in a lane used for parked vehicles and was passing cars on the right for several blocks. Police said Martinez was stopped near Harlem and Robinson Court.

Martinez told the officer he did not have a driver's license, and gave the officer his Illinois State ID Card. Police said when the officer checked his driving status, Martinez had been revoked for four prior DUI convictions. Martinez was placed under arrest for driving while license revoked.

Police said an inventory search was conducted on the car, and officers found illegal narcotics and equipment used for the sale and distribution of narcotics including cannabis, a small black scale used for measuring drugs and plastic bags with a white/yellow substance which field tested positive for cocaine. At this point, police requested a canine to the scene.

Police said the Cook County Sheriff's Office provided a canine officer and dog that searched the car and were able to find an indication of the presence of drugs located throughout the entire car. Officers searched again and additional drugs were found, including more cannabis and cocaine. Brownies were also found, which were laced with cannabis baked into them.

According to police, 110 grams of cocaine was recovered and 366 grams of cannabis was recovered.

“Mr. Martinez's vehicle was a rolling drugstore. He was on his way back home to Romeoville when he drove through Riverside and by his own admission, sold narcotics to whoever would buy them including brownies laced with cannabis," Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said in a release. "Additionally, Mr. Martinez's driver's license was revoked four three for DUI’s. Mr. Martinez’s reckless and arrogant behavior would indicate that he did not think he would ever be stopped by police. These kinds of drug dealers are so brazen that they do not even care how they drive or bring attention to themselves.”

Police said Martinez was also arrested in June 2009 in Riverside for felony drunk driving and felony revoked license. He was also arrested for DUI in 1998 and 2004.

Photos provided by Riverside Police Department.