SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, OHIO — In a bizarre turn of events, a routine traffic stop on May 5 led to a significant drug bust after police discovered a pet raccoon named Chewy holding a methamphetamine pipe in the driver’s seat of a vehicle.
Officer Austin Branham of the Springfield Township Police Department initiated the stop upon identifying that the vehicle’s registered owner had an active warrant and a suspended driver’s license. The driver, 55-year-old Victoria Vidal of Akron, was detained without incident. However, upon returning to the vehicle, Officer Branham observed Chewy with a glass meth pipe in its mouth, prompting a thorough search of the car.
The search uncovered a substantial quantity of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and three used glass meth pipes. Vidal was charged with third-degree felony drug possession, three counts of drug paraphernalia possession, and cited for driving under suspension. She was also taken into custody by Cuyahoga Falls Police due to an outstanding warrant.
Authorities confirmed that Chewy was unharmed and noted that Vidal possessed the necessary documentation to legally own a raccoon in Ohio, reported 6ABC News. While ownership of raccoons is permitted in the state with proper permits, it remains unclear whether Chewy will be returned to Vidal’s care.
The Springfield Township Police Department remarked on the unusual nature of the incident, stating, “While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first!”
This incident underscores the unpredictable challenges law enforcement officers may encounter during routine operations.
Watch the video of the pet raccoon holding a meth pipe and try not to laugh:
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