Latest news with #VictoriaVidal
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- Telegraph
Watch: Raccoon caught with crack pipe
A woman has been arrested after her pet raccoon was found with a crack pipe in her car. Police found the animal, named Chewy, sitting in the driver's seat with a glass pipe in its mouth on Monday. Victoria Vidal, 55, had been pulled over in Springfield Township, Ohio, when an officer realised there was an active warrant out for the car's registered owner. He detained Ms Vidal and returned to the car where he found the raccoon sitting by the steering wheel, hunched over with its paws clasped around pipe. Body camera footage released by the police department shows the officer laughing when he spots the pet, saying: 'The raccoon has her meth pipe… he's playing with her meth pipe right now.' A woman in a purple jumper stretches out her hand for the pipe, prompting him to reply: 'No don't reach for it, that's evidence now.' 'Well, I don't want him to have that,' she replies. The officer then retrieves the pipe with a gloved hand, continuing to laugh and saying: 'He's trying to smoke it – there's no way.' Police searched the car and found a 'bulk amount' of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and three used pipes. Ms Vidal was charged with possession of drugs, three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and was cited for driving under suspension. '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. '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,' they added. 'As always, we remain committed to keeping our community safe – no matter what surprises may come our way.'
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.
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- The Guardian
Ohio police find pet raccoon in car driver's seat with meth pipe in its mouth
Police in Ohio were surprised to discover a pet raccoon called Chewy with a meth pipe in its mouth during a traffic stop in the town of Springfield. In a statement, Springfield Township police department said that one of its officers, Austin Branham, made the stop after spotting a vehicle whose owner had an active warrant and a suspended driver's license. Branham detained the driver without incident but then returned to the vehicle. 'However, things took an unusual turn,' the police press release said. '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.' Police then discovered a bulk amount of methamphetamine, some 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 [the driver] has the proper paperwork and documentation to own the raccoon,' police said. The owner of the car and raccoon, Victoria Vidal, 55, is facing several drug charges and has been cited for driving under suspension. 'No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident,' police added.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- CBS News
Pet raccoon with meth pipe in its mouth found in driver's seat during Ohio traffic stop, police say
An officer in central Ohio encountered a pet racoon while conducting a traffic stop earlier this week. The animal, named "Chewy," had a glass methamphetamine pipe in its mouth and was sitting in the driver's seat of a car that the officer had pulled over, police said. The discovery led Springfield Township Police Officer Austin Branham, who conducted the traffic stop, to search the vehicle more thoroughly. He and other officers found methamphetamine, crack cocaine and three used methamphetamine pipes elsewhere in the car, according to the Springfield Township Police Department. The vehicle was pulled over because its registered owner had an active warrant and a suspended driver's license, the department said. Law enforcement arrested and charged the owner of the car, 55-year-old Victoria Vidal, with drug possession and three counts of drug paraphernalia and cited her for driving under suspension, the police department said. Vidal may face more charges for crack cocaine possession, depending on the outcome of lab results still to come from the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The raccoon was not harmed, police said, and officers confirmed Vidal has the documents needed to legally own the animal. (In Ohio, people are allowed to have pet raccoons, but the process to keep them domestically is highly regulated and certain permits are required.) Springfield police released body camera video of the traffic stop, which shows Chewy emerging from the car. "While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first!" the department said.
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Shocking moment raccoon with METH PIPE in its mouth is found in car during drug bust traffic stop
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the moment police spotted a raccoon sitting with a meth pipe in its mouth during a routine traffic stop. The discovery of "Chewy" the raccoon in Ohio led to the unearthing of a large drug supply linked to the driver. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Local Ohio police found a raccoon with meth pipe in its mouth during an arrest Credit: Springfield Township Police Department 4 The owner of the car, raccoon and drugs, Victoria Vidal, was arrested at the scene Credit: Springfield Township Police Department 4 The raccoon appeared to be entirely unfazed Credit: Springfield Township Police Department The bizarre scene was caught on police body cam footage, which shows the wide-eyed, unfazed raccoon, rummaging through the wrecked car and curiously taking a puff from the meth pipe. Springfield police said: 'Chewy had somehow gotten hold of a glass methamphetamine pipe, leading officers to further inspect the vehicle." They added: 'Thankfully, Chewy the raccoon was unharmed, and notification was made to the proper authorities to determine that [the owner] 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.' The police department revealed the owner of the car - along with the raccoon and drugs - is a 55-year-old woman named Victoria Vidal, who was arrested at the scene. The Akron resident had an active warrant, police added. The strange find led to a stash of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, namely three used glass pipes. Vidal was charged with drug possession, three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license, while facing an active warrant. Obtaining a permit to own a raccoon is legal in the state of Ohio, according Fox 8. Moment major motorway brought to standstill by GOAT as drivers chase animal Police did not explain whether the raccoon will be returned to its owner. It comes as an incredibly rare white killer whale was spotted gliding through the ocean off the coast of Japan's volcanic island Hokkaido. Scientists say the animal has a "glowing mutation", which creates the striking white appearance, and is one of just a handful worldwide. In a video, the creature can be seen swimming in a pod of at least five ordinary orcas. It repeatedly swoops up out of the water before crashing back down into the ocean. Meanwhile, a 28lb cat the size of a small child has gone viral on social media. Zeus, a 'majestic' Maine Coon, who lives in Moldova with his owner, stretches a jaw-dropping 4ft 3in tall when on his hind legs. The super-sized feline can be seen lounging on a bed meant for a sled dog, high-fiving on command, giving his paw and even pressing buttons for treats.
