A North Chicago man, who is a convicted felon, has been arrested after the sheriff says he was caught selling cocaine to undercover detectives in Lake County.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group (SIG) began an investigation in April 2023 into Michael Cansler, 48, of North Chicago.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said the investigation began after the group learned Cansler was possibly dealing cocaine.
Members of SIG began an undercover investigation and confirmed Cansler was trafficking cocaine in Lake County, Covelli said.
Covelli said SIG conducted an operation and on two occasions, Cansler sold cocaine to undercover detectives.
Both deliveries involved nearly 30 grams of cocaine for a total of nearly 60 grams of cocaine.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kailey Hopkins said the drugs were verified through testing at the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Lab.
SIG detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Cansler in January 2024.
He was charged with one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class X felony, and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony.
Cansler had been wanted for over a year and was arrested on the warrant on Friday.
The arrest came after the Lincolnshire Police Department conducted a traffic stop and Cansler was an occupant in the vehicle, Covelli said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Cansler pending trial, arguing he poses a real and present danger to the safety of the community.
Hopkins said Cansler is a convicted felon with prior convictions for manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance in a 2005 Lake County case and aggravated battery to a pregnant person in a 2005 Lake County case.
He additionally has a prior case for felon in possession of a firearm and armed robbery, Hopkins said.
A detention hearing was held on Monday afternoon and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim denied the petition.
Attorney David Weinstein, who is representing Cansler, argued during the hearing that his client does not pose a danger to the community and noted that the alleged offenses occurred two years ago.
“It’s a jump to say he’s a danger now. My client is very insistent that at this time he was not selling cocaine and this was not him,” Weinstein said, adding that Cansler’s prior convictions are from 20 years ago.
Cansler was released from custody with Level 3 pre-trial services monitoring, placed on a curfew at pre-trial services’ discretion and ordered not to possess any weapons and not to consume illegal drugs or alcohol.
A status of preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 23.