The summer brings all sorts of fun activities to Chicago. There are street festivals, concerts and other fun events. Recently, Chicago hosted the annual music festival Lollapalooza. While these festivals are fun, they often include an increased police present and can sometimes lead to criminal charges. In fact, according to police at least 10 people were arrested on felony drug charges while at this year’s Lollapalooza.
One of those arrested, a 24-year-old man, has been charged with manufacture or delivery of more than 15 Ecstasy pills, misdemeanor possession of cannabis and felony manufacture or delivery of cannabis. According to police, they saw the man make some sort of deal with another Lollapalooza attendee on one afternoon. Later, police allege that they heard him offer “rolls” — a slang term for MDMA or Ecstasy — to another person. When police approached him, the man apparently fled while trying to get rid of a bottle.
Police say that he was eventually apprehended him and when he was searched, the police found 153 MDMA pills and small bags of marijuana. Police estimate that the pills alone were worth over $3,000. He is being held in Cook County Jail and bail was set at $75,000.
Felony drug charges like these are very serious. These types of charges can result in large fines, long prison sentences and a criminal record. In cases, such this Lollapalooza case, where people are searched prior to their arrest, people need to make sure their constitutional rights were upheld during the search and seizure. Police have rules that they have to follow during searches of suspects. If these rules were broken in any of the Lollapalooza cases, then charges in that case may be dropped.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “At least 10 arrested on felony drug charges related to Lollapalooza,” Patrick Svitek, Aug. 4, 2013
