By Cliff Pinckard
cleveland.com
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A Summit County woman was arrested Monday on multiple drug charges after police discovered a raccoon with a meth pipe in its mouth in the front seat of her vehicle.
“While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first!” the Springfield Township Police Department says in a news release.
Victoria Vidal, 55, of Akron, the owner of the raccoon, is charged with possession of drugs, three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and was cited for driving under suspension, police say.
A police officer pulled over Vidal’s vehicle at about 7;15 p.m. Monday on South Arlington Road, the news release says. The officer suspected Vidal had an active warrant and was driving with a suspended license.
Vidal was detained without incident, but when the officer returned to the vehicle, “things took an unusual turn,” police say. The officer spotted the raccoon, named Chewy, sitting in the driver’s seat with a meth pipe in its mouth.
The officer searched the vehicle and found a “bulk” amount of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and three used glass meth pipes.
“Thankfully, Chewy the raccoon was unharmed and notification was made to the proper authorities to determine that she has the proper paperwork and documentation to own the raccoon,” the news release says. “No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident.”
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