Police arrested a drug dealer who admitted to manufacturing cocaine after he was found with a large quantity of drugs and two guns at an apartment in Waukegan.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG), which includes the Waukegan Police Department, began an investigation in May.
The SIG learned Eldridge B. Ingram, 41, of Waukegan, was selling narcotics, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emma Smoler said law enforcement conducted surveillance on Ingram’s home, located in the 500 block of May Street in Waukegan.
Investigators witnessed 30 people coming and going from the residence, Smoler said.
Members of SIG and the Waukegan Police Department conducted a search warrant on Tuesday at Ingram’s home.
Detectives located over 180 grams of crack cocaine, over 100 grams of cannabis, four grams of powder cocaine, multiple illegally possessed prescription medications, MDMA and drug packaging equipment.
Detectives also located two stolen firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition.
Some of the drugs and guns were found in the basement of the apartment building. The basement door had been padlocked by Ingram, Smoler said.
Smoler said Ingram admitted to selling crack cocaine and said he cooks it in his apartment.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved charges of manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance, armed habitual criminal, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated unlawful possession of ammunition, two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of cannabis.
The most serious charges against Ingram are Class X felonies, which carry up to 30 years in prison.
Winter M. Griffin, 36, of Waukegan, was at the home during the time of the search warrant and was found to be in possession of cocaine.
She was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.
“The collaboration our Special Investigations Group has with our federal and local law enforcement partners is incredible. This collaboration frequently leads to the arrests of drug traffickers and violent individuals who attempt to operate in Lake County,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said following the arrests.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Ingram held on a $1 million bond during a hearing Wednesday morning.
Potkonjak allowed Griffin to be released on a personal recognizance bond.