Rockford man charged with meth possession in Elgin

A Rockford man is facing up to 50 years behind bars after he was charged with possession of $45,000 worth of methamphetamine, Elgin police said.

At about 11:54 p.m. Wednesday, an Elgin police officer approached a suspicious vehicle in the 400 block of Franklin Street, police said in a news release Friday.

As he walked up to it, the vehicle sped away with its headlights turned off, police said.

In the vicinity, officers found a paper bag containing about a pound of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $45,000.

A few minutes later, the vehicle was spotted and the driver and its two passengers were arrested, police said.

Jorge L. Ramirez, 40, of the 300 block of Lincoln Avenue in Rockford, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, felony possession of controlled substance and numerous traffic violations, officials said.

In addition, Guadalupe Valdovinos-Baca, 26, of the 300 block of Lincoln Avenue in Rockford, was charged with obstruction of justice, a Class 4 felony, and could face three years behind bars if convicted, officials said.

The third person in the car was not charged and was released.