In a bizarre incident during a routine traffic stop in Ohio, police discovered a pet raccoon named “Chewy” sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, clutching a methamphetamine pipe. Body cam footage captured an officer humorously noting, “The raccoon has her meth pipe.” Upon further investigation, it turned out Chewy had access to multiple meth pipes. The driver, Victoria Vidal, 55, was arrested after being found with illegal drugs, which included methamphetamine and crack cocaine, as well as additional drug paraphernalia.
The stop was initially prompted by a verification of the vehicle’s registration, which showed that the owner had an active warrant and a suspended driver’s license. Following the discovery of the drugs, Vidal was charged with three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and cited for driving under suspension. The police department indicated that additional charges concerning crack cocaine possession were likely pending lab results.
Despite the outrageous circumstances, the raccoon was unharmed, and officers verified that Vidal had the necessary documentation to own it, as pet raccoons are legal in Ohio. After ensuring Chewy’s safety, officers placed him in a carrier and contacted the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to arrange for his rehoming.
This incident had the Springfield Township Police Department highlighting their commitment to community safety, acknowledging the unusual nature of this encounter while still addressing the serious drug-related offenses involved.
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