Traffic stops lead to big drug busts in Aurora

By Erika Wurst For Chronicle Media

Aurora police seized heroin, cocaine and marijuana, worth more than $53,000, following two recent traffic stops in the city.

According to Aurora Police Department spokesman Dan Ferrelli, the latest stop occurred around 7:45 a.m. on Dec. 6, when Ado Autman, 28, of Crest Hill, was stopped by police after pulling out in front of an Aurora police officer at Fox Pointe and Mair Drives.

During the stop, the officer learned that Autman’s license had been revoked, and that he did not have proof of insurance. As a result, Autman was taken into custody and his 2015 Jeep Cherokee was inventoried.

A backpack was found inside the vehicle, and that it contained more than 10.5 ounces (300 grams) of heroin, more than 3.5 ounces of cocaine (100 grams), and one pound of marijuana, Ferrelli said. The drugs have a street value of around $50,000. In addition, $1,885 in cash was allegedly found in Autman’s front pockets.

Autman was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and a single count of unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. Bail was set at $90,000. Autman posted the required 10 percent and was released from jail, Ferrelli said.

On Dec. 3, Aurora police seized an additional ounce of cocaine (about 29 grams) during a traffic stop in the area of State Street and North Avenue.

Around 11:05 p.m., a 43-year-old Ottawa man driving a 1997 Ford Expedition was pulled over by Aurora Police Department Special Operations Investigators for allegedly failing to use a turn signal. When investigators approached the vehicle, they allegedly spotted an open beer in plain view and requested identification from everyone inside the vehicle, according to Ferrelli.

Steve Suarez, 40, of the 600 block of Woodlawn Avenue, Aurora, was one of the passengers inside the vehicle.

When Suarez reached into his pockets to produce his identification he allegedly pulled out a bag of cocaine, Ferrelli said.

He attempted to hide the drugs in his hand, but one of the responding investigators had already spotted the bag, according to police.

Suarez was taken into custody without incident and charged with single counts of manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance through the Kane County State’s Attorney.

Aurora police said the cocaine had a street value of $3,000. An additional $421 in cash was also taken from Suarez during the stop.

Since Suarez was already on parole for drug charges, a new warrant was issued by the Illinois Department of Corrections stemming from the latest felonies. He is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail at the Kane County Correctional Center in St. Charles.

The driver of the Expedition was ticketed for failure to signal and verbally warned about the vehicle’s excessively loud exhaust. A rear seat passenger, a 36-year-old Aurora man, was charged with illegal transportation of alcohol after a beer was found in one of his jacket pockets. One other passenger, a 40-year-old Ottawa man, was not charged, Ferrelli said.

 

 

 

—  Traffic stops lead to big drug busts in Aurora —