Lake County Detectives Make Drug, Weapons Bust in Zion

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) conducted a traffic stop Thursday, August 2 at 23rd Street and Lewis Avenue in Zion. Police say The driver of the 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe, 43-year-old Kevin D. Howell gave SIU officers consent to search the vehicle. 

Deputy Bell of the LCSO and K-9, Thor, also assisted SIU. The search of the interior of the vehicle netted a large amount of crack cocaine. A loaded 9mm handgun was also located by detectives in the air filter of the engine compartment of the Tahoe.  Heroin was located on Howell’s person as well.

SIU further followed up with a search of residence of an associate of Howell at the 2500 block of Gilead in Zion.  A substantial amount of crack cocaine was located at this residence as well as an AR-15 assault rifle and numerous magazines for the weapon.

Sheriff Mark Curran announced that in total, SIU Detectives took 776 grams of cocaine, one gram of heroin and two guns off the streets of Lake County with this arrest.

Howell was charged with traffic offenses, two counts of Unlawful Use of Weapon (Class 2), two counts Unlawful Possession of Control Substance (Class 1), two Counts Unlawful Delivery of Controlled Substance (Class X), one Count Unlawful Delivery of Controlled Substance (Class 1), one Count Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (Class 4) and one Count of Obstructing a Correctional Employee.

Howell was held pending bond court.