The knock on the hotel room door wasn’t housekeeping, but they were there to clean up.
Police were tipped off Wednesday about “possible drug activity” in a room on the fourth floor of Townplace Suites, 1515 Riverboat Center Drive in Joliet.
Narcotics Sgt. Patrick Cardwell knocked on the hotel room door about 4 p.m. and was met by Derek Burdette, 28, of Cambria, Calif.
“Sgt. Cardwell immediately noticed a strong odor of cannabis when the door was opened and asked Burdette if there was any in the room,” Deputy Chief Mike Trafton said.
Burdette and another man in the room reportedly told Cardwell there was a small baggie in a backpack on a table and allowed him to retrieve it.
“He asked if there was any other drugs or weapons in the room and was given permission to look around,” Trafton said.
Cardwell and officers Aaron Bandy and Jeff German called in a canine officer, which alerted police to another backpack.
“Inside were shrink-wrapped bundles of currency totaling $121,962,” Trafton said.
Burdette refused to claim the funds in the bag, which were seized. He was charged with possession of cannabis and released on $1,000 bond. The other occupant of the room was not charged.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services