Tinley Park Couple Accused of Hiding Drugs in Woman's Bra: Cops

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- A Tinley Park couple was arrested during a traffic stop in Evergreen Park after police found heroin in the woman’s bra, prosecutors said. Nicole Lowery, 30, and Joseph Lipuma, 25, appeared before Cook County Judge Michael Kane on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia. Lipuma is currently on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Evergreen Park police were patrolling Southwest Highway when they pulled Lowery over for an alleged traffic violation around 4 p.m. April 18. As police approached Lowery’s Volkswagen, Lipuma appeared to be hiding something in the front seat, the prosecutor said. Lowery allegedly told police she had a bag of heroin hidden inside her bra. Police also found heroin on the seat where Lipuma was sitting and two hydrocodone pills.

The two admitted to driving to 74th Street and Western Avenue to buy crack, which they smoked prior to being stopped by police. Lowery has a felony out of Will County for manufacture/delivery for which she received probation, and a misdemeanor theft conviction.

Lipuma is on parole from three concurrent four-year sentences for forgery and aggravated robbery. His project discharge date is 2019.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Lowery has asthma. Lipuma is an Andrew High School graduate and attends beauty school in Oak Forest.

Lowery is being held without bail. Lipuma’s bail was set at $20,000. Both were ordered to submit to random drug testing before returning for their next court date on May 8 in Bridgeview.