Latest news with #CuyahogaFallsPolice
Global News
07-05-2025
- Global News
Pet raccoon holding a meth pipe in driver's seat surprises Ohio police
Police officers respond to a lot of strange calls, but a recent incident involving a pet raccoon and a methamphetamine pipe in Ohio may take the cake for most unusual interaction. An officer in central Ohio encountered Chewy, a pet raccoon, during a traffic stop Monday evening. While the car was initially pulled over for an active warrant on the driver, who also had a suspended licence, it was Chewy who alerted the cops to additional potential crimes. Springfield Township police officer Austin Branham first approached the vehicle and detained a cooperative 55-year-old woman by the name of Victoria Vidal. When Branham turned his attention back to the car, however, 'things took an unusual turn,' the Springfield Township Police Department wrote in a press release shared to Facebook. Story continues below advertisement 'As Officer Branham returned to the vehicle, he observed a raccoon named 'Chewy' sitting in the driver's seat with a meth pipe in its mouth. Chewy had somehow gotten hold of a glass methamphetamine pipe, leading officers to further inspect the vehicle.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Body camera video released by police showed the calm raccoon playing with the meth pipe, and at one point putting it in his mouth, while the officers laughed, incredulous at the sight. View image in full screen A zoomed-in video still shows Chewy with the meth pipe in his mouth. Handout / Facebook / Springfield Township Police Department Chewy's adventures in drug paraphernalia led the officers to further search the car, where they found a bulk amount of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and three used meth pipes, police said. Vidal was charged with possession of drugs and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and was cited for driving under suspension, authorities said. She was also subsequently turned over to Cuyahoga Falls Police on her active warrant, where additional charges related to crack cocaine possession will be presented at a grand jury pending lab results. Story continues below advertisement '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,' police said, adding that Vidal did have all the right papers. 'While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first!' 'No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident,' authorities confirmed. 'As always, we remain committed to keeping our community safe — no matter what surprises may come our way.'
USA Today
07-05-2025
- USA Today
Not your average traffic stop: Watch video as police find racoon with meth pipe
Not your average traffic stop: Watch video as police find racoon with meth pipe Show Caption Hide Caption 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@
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Ohio woman arrested after being caught in disturbing act with 'Chewy' the Raccoon inside car
An Ohio woman was arrested after her pet raccoon was found holding a meth pipe to its mouth in her car during a routine traffic stop. Victoria Vidal, 55, was pulled over in Akron by a Springfield Township Police officer on Monday after it was determined that she had an active warrant and a suspended driver's license, according to a post from the department. Upon approaching the vehicle, an officer 'made contact with the driver,' who was then detained 'without incident,' the post stated. 'However, things took an unusual turn' when the officer returned to Vidal's car, the police department said. According to police, 'he observed a raccoon named "Chewy" sitting in the driver's seat with a meth pipe in its mouth.' 'Chewy had somehow gotten hold of a glass methamphetamine pipe, leading officers to further inspect the vehicle,' the post continued. The discovery prompted a search of the vehicle that turned up a significant quantity of meth, crack cocaine and three used glass pipes, police said. Vidal, a resident of Akron, was then taken into custody. Vidal was arrested after her pet raccoon, Chewy, was found holding a methamphetamine pipe in the driver's seat of her car during a routine traffic stop She now faces charges of third-degree felony drug possession, three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and was cited for driving with a suspended license. She was also taken into custody by the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department due to the outstanding warrant. 'While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first!' the post added. 'No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident.' Police noted that Vidal had 'the proper paperwork and documentation to own the raccoon.' It remains unclear whether Chewy will be returned to Vidal. In Ohio, residents are allowed to keep raccoons as pets if they file the necessary documentation, Fox8 reported. Other exotic pets permitted under state law include chinchillas, sugar gliders, antelopes, roaming buffalo, moose, caribou, llamas, tarantulas, alpacas, deer, and emus. '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 police department said The incident sparked outrage, and a few jokes, from commenters. 'I love raccoons and this makes me so sad. If you are a druggie don't get your pets involved and subject them to it too,' one wrote. 'Looks like Springfield just saved some money on a trained drug dog, "field trained" Chewy just got promoted to the position,' another added. 'Chewy needs a tox[icology] screen so they can add an animal cruelty charge as well. It doesn't look like this is his first time handling a meth pipe!' a third chimed in. The unbelievable incident comes months after another in Ohio where pair of vicious pit bulls mauled their 73-year-old neighbor to death, after police found the animals had been exposed to their owner's cocaine. In September, police responded to reports of an animal complaint on and found Adam Withers high on cocaine and chasing his dogs in Ashville, about 20 miles south of Columbus. Withers confessed to using the drug and told cops that his dogs were in his garage with him when he smoked it. One of the dogs was seen dragging its hind legs and police believed both had been exposed to cocaine, but authorities never removed them from the home. On October 17, the two dogs escaped the home again and viciously mauled their neighbor, Jo Ann Echelbarger while she was gardening. Echelbarger suffered a broken neck and the dogs ripped off her ear, most of her scalp, and her right thumb. When Ashville Police arrived, one of the pit bulls charged at an officer and the cop fired his gun and killed it. Officers found the other dog near the scene and also opened fire, killing the animal. Body camera footage showed the moment police responded to the gruesome scene and shot the dogs dead.
Metro
07-05-2025
- Metro
Pet raccoon caught doing meth in the driver's seat of a car
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This is the moment a police officer found a pet raccoon called Chewy doing meth in the driver's seat of a car. Bodycam footage from officer Austin Branham shows him stopping a car in Springfield, Ohio, on Monday. The driver, Victoria Vidal, 55, was detained because she had an active warrant and suspended driver's licence. But things took an unusual turn when the officer returned to the car after she was detained. 'Oh, hey, come here, the raccoon has her meth pipe,' the officer can be heard saying. He then chuckles and exclaims: 'He's playing with the meth pipe, right now.' The officer then laughs harder and shouts: 'He's trying to smoke it.' He then reaches into the car and pulls the meth pipe away from Chewy before he says excitedly: 'The raccoon was playing with her meth pipe. 'Alright, enough fun and games,' he then tells Chewy. Officers at the scene investigated the car more after being left baffled as to how the raccoon managed to get a meth pipe in his mouth. They also found a bulk amount of meth, crack cocaine and three used glass meth pipes. Ms Vidal was charged with possession of drugs, three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and was cited for driving under suspension. She was also turned over to Cuyahoga Falls Police for her active warrant. More Trending The additional charges related to crack cocaine possession will be presented at Grand Jury pending lab results. Springfield Township Police Department posted on Facebook: '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. 'While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first! No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident. 'As always, we remain committed to keeping our community safe — no matter what surprises may come our way.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Woman's dismembered body found on beach after telling friends she was going to party MORE: 'Loverboy' criminal who romanced two prison workers caught after week on the run MORE: First picture of 'super nice' and 'helpful' man stabbed to death in his flat
NDTV
07-05-2025
- NDTV
Ohio Police Discover Pet Raccoon With Meth Pipe, Uncovering Significant Drug Cache
During a routine traffic stop in Springfield Township, Ohio, police officers encountered an unexpected situation involving a pet raccoon and illegal narcotics. On May 5, Officer Austin Branham stopped a vehicle driven by 55-year-old Victoria Vidal of Akron for a suspended license. Upon detaining Vidal, who also had an active warrant, Officer Branham noticed a raccoon named Chewy in the driver's seat holding a methamphetamine pipe. This unusual observation prompted a thorough search of the vehicle, leading to the discovery of a significant quantity of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and three used glass meth pipes. The Springfield Township Police Department said in a Facebook post that, "As Officer Branham returned to the vehicle, he observed a raccoon named "Chewy" sitting in the driver's seat with a meth pipe in its mouth. Chewy had somehow gotten hold of a glass methamphetamine pipe, leading officers to inspect the vehicle further." Vidal was arrested and charged with third-degree felony drug possession and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and cited for driving under suspension. She was subsequently transferred to the Cuyahoga Falls Police due to her outstanding warrant. Additional charges related to crack cocaine possession will be presented at the Grand Jury pending BCI lab results. Thankfully, Chewy the raccoon was unharmed, and the proper authorities were notified to determine that she has the proper paperwork and documentation to own the racoon. Authorities confirmed that Chewy was unharmed and that Vidal possessed the necessary documentation to legally own a raccoon in Ohio. The Springfield Township Police Department remarked on the rarity of the incident, stating that encountering a raccoon holding a meth pipe was a first for their officers. The situation underscores the unpredictable nature of law enforcement and the diverse challenges officers may face during routine duties.
