South Elgin man charged in drug sale

A South Elgin man has been arrested on charges he sold cocaine to an undercover police officer three times.

Marco Tapia, 44, of 570 Dean St., was charged with three felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church, three felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance and three felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, according to police.

South Elgin police said the undercover officer bought 0.3 grams of cocaine from Tapia on July 24 for $50, 1.3 grams of cocaine on Aug. 18 for $100 and 2.6 grams of cocaine on Thursday for $100.

Tapia had 1 gram of cocaine in his pocket when he was arrested, police said.

All transactions occurred not far from his home, police said.

At his bond hearing on Friday, Tapia told Kane County Judge Kevin Busch he has been a U.S. citizen since 1985, worked for the same company for 21 years, had no criminal history and fell upon hard times recently when he broke a bone and was unable to work.

Tapia was unable to post a $5,000 bond and was taken to the Kane County jail.

His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 19 at the Kane County Judicial Center.