No, the raccoon will not be charged with drug possession.
In Ohio, an unexpected situation arose during a traffic stop on Monday when a woman was arrested. Upon returning to the car, the officer discovered a raccoon perched in the driver’s seat, gripping a glass pipe typically used for methamphetamine, according to police reports.
“The raccoon has her meth pipe,” an officer is heard saying with a laugh on body cam video. “That’s evidence now.”
When the officer took the pipe away, the raccoon pulled out another.
“Though our officers are prepared for unforeseen events, encountering a raccoon clutching a meth pipe was a novel experience!” the Springfield Township Police Department remarked in a social media update.
The raccoon, called “Chewy,” wasn’t harmed during the incident. Authorities verified that the driver had all necessary documentation to legally own the raccoon in Ohio, where keeping such pets is allowed.
The incident led officers to further inspect the vehicle, and they found a bulk amount of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and three used methamphetamine pipes, according to the department.
The vehicle had been pulled over after its registered owner was found to have an active warrant and suspended driver’s license. Victoria Vidal, a 55-year-old from Akron, was charged with three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and cited for driving under suspension.
The department said Vidal could face additional charges for crack cocaine possession pending lab results from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. She was turned over to police on her active warrant.
Officers, in a video shard on the department’s Facebook page, said they placed the raccoon in a carrier and contacted the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to ensure that Chewy is rehomed to a safer location.
“As always,” the department said, “we remain committed to keeping our community safe — no matter what surprises may come our way.”
