State Police Seize 52 Pounds of Marijuana in Grundy County Drug Bust

Richard Bird. Credit: Illinois State Police

A Marion man faces charges after a traffic stop led to a drug bust last week in Grundy County, Illinois State Police said.

Richard T. Bird, 45, was arrested Nov. 6 after a trooper allegedly found $500,000 worth of cannabis in his vehicle during the stop, according to police.

Police said a state trooper conducted a traffic stop on Bird’s value for failure to signal on eastbound I-80 near Route 47 in Morris. During the investigation, the trooper uncovered an estimated 52 pounds of cannabis inside the vehicle, according to state police.

Bird was charged with possession and intent to deliver and taken to the Grundy County jail, where he later posted bond, police said.

“This arrest demonstrates the ISP’s continued commitment to its criminal patrol efforts,” District 5 Commander Randy Ness said. “Seizures of this magnitude significantly cut into the pipeline that is bringing large quantities of dangerous drugs to our communities. These troopers did an exceptional job of intercepting illicit narcotics, and their training and good police work prevented the drugs from going any further.”