Additional Coverage:
- Woman arrested after raccoon found with meth pipe in driver’s seat during police stop (abcnews.go.com)
Springfield Township, Ohio — A routine traffic stop took a bizarre turn Monday evening when a pet raccoon named Chewy was found behind the wheel, clutching a meth pipe.
Around 7:15 p.m., Officer Austin Branham pulled over a vehicle on South Arlington Road after recognizing the registered owner, 55-year-old Victoria Vidal of Akron, as having a suspended license and an active warrant. Vidal was apprehended without incident. However, upon returning to the vehicle, Officer Branham discovered Chewy, Vidal’s pet raccoon, in the driver’s seat with a meth pipe in its mouth.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a substantial quantity of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and three used meth pipes. Vidal was charged with felony possession of drugs, three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving under suspension. She was later transferred to Cuyahoga Falls Police on her outstanding warrant, where she faces additional charges related to crack cocaine possession pending lab results.
Authorities confirmed that Vidal had the necessary permits and documentation for Chewy, who was unharmed during the incident. The appropriate authorities were notified to ensure the raccoon’s continued well-being. Springfield Township Police, while emphasizing their commitment to community safety, admitted that encountering a meth-pipe-wielding raccoon was definitely a first.