Crime & Safety

Police: Parolee With Weed In Pants Can't Explain Large Wad of Cash

Des Plaines man tells police $2,500 were his earnings from Steak 'n Shake job after he was pulled over in Escalade used by local crack dealers, police say.

A Des Plaines man driving a Cadillac Escalade that police say is known to be used by local drug dealers was charged with possession of cannabis and driving on a suspended license on June 27.

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Brandon Campbell, 21, of the 300 block of Potter Road in Des Plaines, who also goes by the name of Kendall P. Hooker, was stopped by after they saw him changing lanes without signaling around 5:52 p.m., reports said.

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When police noticed he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, they pulled Campbell over on the 4800 block of Southwest Highway. Police said Campbell was stuffing something into his back pocket when they approached his car.

He was ordered out of the Escalade, allegedly admitting to police that, “I got a little weed in my pants.”

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Police found a knotted baggie with six smaller bags inside containing cannabis. Campbell was also found to be carrying $2,500 cash and driving on a suspended license, reports said.

He was taken into custody and brought to the Oak Lawn police station. According to reports, Campbell said he earned the money working at Steak 'n Shake in Rosement after being released from prison six weeks ago.

Police said Campbell explained that he worked 30 hours a week making $7.75 per hour.

Campbell subsequently changed his story about the cash several times, saying that he was currently unemployed and had borrowed the money from his parents, police said.

When detectives offered to call his parents to verify his story, he allegedly told police the money belonged to him, and that he stole it from someone in prison.

Detectives further grilled Campbell on the wad of cash. Campbell allegedly told police he was on his way to the department of motor vehicles to get his license reinstated. Advised that the facility was closed at the time of the traffic stop, police said Campbell changed his story again that he was planning to buy a car.

The parolee told police that the Escalade belonged to a friend who lives at 63rd Street and Harlem Avenue, reports said. Police said the same Escalade has been stopped on several occasions in Oak Lawn while different crack-cocaine dealers were driving it.

Campbell has prior convictions for possession of narcotics, and was released on parole in March, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records.

Campbell was also charged with multiple traffic offenses. His next court appearance is July 31. Oak Lawn police are holding the cash.

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