CHICAGO, IL – Cook County Sheriff’s deputies broke up an apparent drug deal while serving a court- ordered eviction on Wednesday morning in Chicago, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said today.
Rosendo Diaz, 28, opened the door to a home in the 5600 block of South California Avenue after deputies announced themselves as executing an eviction order at approximately 11:30 a.m.
The deputies informed Diaz of the eviction and its procedures. Another man, identified as 29-year-old Israel Fernandez, of Chicago, was located in the living room. Both men were asked to be seated while the deputies checked for other people in the house.
While searching the basement, deputies came across gallon-sized freezer bags in plain view, containing what appeared to be cannabis lying on a bed. They also identified loose cannabis in empty containers, a large brick of cannabis, a scale, a semi-automatic handgun and a revolver.
Diaz told the deputies the house belonged to his parents and he lived there with them. His mother arrived after Diaz called her to return home at the deputy’s request. She consented to a search of the house and garage.
Two additional large bundles of cannabis were found under the basement stairs. A .357 caliber revolver and ammunition were found in an unlocked safe in the basement.
A total of 44 pounds of cannabis was found in the house – 22 pounds in the bedroom and 22 pounds under the stairs in the basement, with an estimated street value of over $200,000.
The Sheriff’s Police Gun Suppression Unit and Gang Unit worked in partnership with asset forfeitures teams and evidence technicians at the scene.
Sheriff’s Police investigators learned that Fernandez was at the house to buy cannabis from Diaz. Diaz was in the basement bagging up cannabis when deputies arrived to enforce the court order.
Diaz was charged yesterday with armed violence, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, felony possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. Fernandez was charged yesterday with attempted possession of cannabis and has already posted bond. Diaz is scheduled to appear in bond court at noon today at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building.
Sheriff Dart reminds the public that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the government in a court of law.
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