Not your average traffic stop: Watch video as police find racoon with meth pipe
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Raccoon seen holding meth pipe, owner charged with possession of drugs
Police came across the bizarre scene during a traffic stop in Akron, Ohio. The owner received multiple charges, including possession of drugs.
Police found a raccoon with a meth pipe in its moth after its owner was arrested on an active Monday, leading to even more charges, according to police.
On Monday, an officer with the Springfield Township Police Department made a traffic stop that would lead to a shocking discovery.
"While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first!" wrote the Springfield Township Police Department on Facebook. "No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident."
Chewy the raccoon's owner, Victoria Vidal, 55, was arrested in Springfield Township, Ohio, around 15 miles north of Cincinnati, after a traffic stop led to police discovering that she was driving with an active warrant and suspended license, according to a post made to the Springfield Township Police Department's Facebook.
Watch unusual traffic stop when police find raccoon holding meth pipe
However, that wasn't the unusual part of this story.
When an officer returned to the car after Vidal's arrest, he found Chewy in the driver's seat of Vidal's car, "with a meth pipe in its mouth," the Facebook post said.
"Chewy had somehow gotten hold of a glass methamphetamine pipe, leading officers to further inspect the vehicle," according to the police department.
The discovery led police to investigate and search the car, where they found drugs and pipes.
What did police find?
A search revealed the following were in the car, according to police:
A bulk amount of methamphetamine
Crack cocaine
Three used glass meth pipes
'Walking past my dog' challenge: Owners test pups' recognition skills, with mixed results
What was Vidal charged with?
The discovery of the raccoon led to Vidal receiving multiple charges, including third-degree felony possession of drugs and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police. Vidal was also cited for driving under suspension.
"Additional charges related to crack cocaine possession will be presented at Grand Jury pending BCI lab results," police said.
Vidal was handed over to another police department, the Cuyahoga Falls Police, on her active warrant.
How is Chewy the raccoon?
Chewy the raccoon was unharmed, and police determined that Vidal did have the proper documentation needed to own the raccoon.
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
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