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Crime & Safety

Falls Man Faces Drug Charges After Hanging Out By a Vacant Milwaukee House

Milwaukee police officers find a bag with 20 smaller baggies of marijuana inside his car after he tried tries to walk away from them.

A 21-year-old Menomonee Falls man is facing drug charges after he was caught outside of a vacant home on the north side of Milwaukee with marijuana.

James Henry Eckels III was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Thursday with one count of possession of THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana. If convicted, he could face up to six months in prison and $1,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

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On Saturday, Milwaukee police officers on patrol in the 4600 block of North 38th Street spotted Eckels and a group of other people standing outside of a vacant home. As their squad car approached the crowd disbursed and Eckels began walking towards a nearby home.

One of the officers got out and followed him and spotted Eckels toss something out of his pocket after entering a fenced-in yard, then stop after taking another five steps towards the house. The officer then searched the area and found three bags of marijuana in the yard.

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Eckels’ car was parked nearby with the window open and officers could smell marijuana coming from inside. They then searched the car and found another bag of marijuana with 13.6 grams of the drug inside divided into 20 smaller baggies.

He’s currently being held in Milwaukee County Jail on a $250 signature bond.

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