Cops: Marijuana Growing Operation Found During Well-Being Check

VERNON HILLS, IL — Three people were arrested and charged with felony drug offenses after marijuana plants were found during a well-being check, according to Vernon Hills police. Police were called to the residence of Dimitry A. Kolesnikov, 33, around 8 a.m. Tuesday. Police said they found him disoriented and thought he was drunk, and so officers called an ambulance.

During a check of his home on the 300 block of Cherry Valley Road, police discovered cannabis plants in the basement and another man in the house, according to a news release. The other man, Ilya Tanich, 40, was identified by Vernon Hills police as a resident of the house but lives in Wheeling, according to Lake County Jail records.

Inside the house, officers found 17 marijuana plants, cocaine, pills, more than $2,600 in cash after police got a search warrant for the whole house based on their preliminary findings, according to the release. Outside the house, before police executed the warrant, they found a woman identified as Kolesnikov's wife, Ekaterina M. Kolesnikova, 39, of the 1600 block of Sunset Avenue in Waukegan.

Kolesnikov and Kolesnikova were each charged with unlawful possession of between 2000 and 5000 grams of marijuana, unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, unlawful production of marijuana plants and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Tanich was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance (between 1 and 15 grams of cocaine) with intent to deliver.

"The arrests and recovery of the contraband [were] the result of prompt and decisive action by our telecommunicators, patrol officers and investigators," said Vernon Hills Police Chief Patrick Kreis. "The investigation was a team effort by members of the Vernon Hills Police Department and several other law enforcement agencies." Kreis declined to specify the other law enforcement agencies.

Kolesnikov's bond has been set at $100,000 with a court date of July 12.

Tanich is being held on a $250,000 bond with a July 6 court date.

Kolesnikova has a July 3 court date and a $50,000 bond, according to the Lake County sheriff's office.

Top photos: (From left) Dimitry A. Kolesnikov, Ekaterina M. Kolesnikova, Ilya Tanich | via Lake County Sheriff