Officers were exposed to fentanyl after a convicted felon resisted arrest while armed with a loaded, stolen gun during a traffic stop near Mundelein Thursday evening, authorities said.
The Lake County Special Investigations Group conducted a traffic stop around 7:25 p.m. Thursday in the 26000 block of Route 83 in unincorporated Mundelein.
The stop involved a vehicle in which Benjamin Rodriguez, 29, of Mundelein, was a passenger, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant Matthew Harmon.
Detectives observed drugs in plain view on Rodriguez’s face and the seat where he was sitting.
Harmon said detectives asked that he exit the vehicle and he initially complied.
Rodriguez began resisting the efforts of detectives to detain him once he was outside the car.
He then jumped back into the vehicle in an attempt to flee but was unsuccessful, Harmon said.
Detectives removed Rodriguez from the driver’s compartment and placed him on the ground, where he continued to resist arrest.
Harmon said the suspect, who is a convicted felon, concealed his hands in front of his body and officers deployed a taser to gain control and place him into custody.
Detectives discovered a loaded, stolen pistol tucked into the front of Rodriguez’s waistband after they arrested him.
He also had several small bags of suspected fentanyl in his pockets, Harmon said.
A powder became airborne, contaminating both officers during the struggle, Harmon said.
They were treated at a hospital for possible fentanyl exposure and later released.
Rodriguez was evaluated by paramedics but declined medical treatment.
The case was reviewed by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, which approved charges of armed violence, two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, resisting arrest, possession of a stolen firearm and three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
He was transported to the Lake County Jail where he is awaiting a detention hearing, which is scheduled for Monday afternoon.