Police arrest six in parole crackdown

Elgin police, working with state and federal authorities, arrested six people Wednesday morning on a variety of drug and weapons charges during a citywide check of parolees.

"This is another example of how we're going to continue to work with outside agencies to combat gangs and drugs in Elgin," Elgin Police Chief Jeffrey Swoboda said. "If they're not going to follow those (parole) rules, we don't want them residing in Elgin."

Beginning at 5 a.m., the department's gang and special operations division, along with the Illinois Department of Corrections, U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force and Illinois State Police, fanned out to the residences of 50 parolees, said Elgin Police Sgt. Dan O'Shea.

A total of 25 were located and brought into the Elgin Police Department for urine tests. Twelve tested positive, police said in a statement.

Arrested and charged were:

• Darius Rollings, 27, of the 1300 block of Getzelman Drive, with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. The cocaine charges carry a maximum 15-year prison term.

• Jerry Walls, 25, of the 300 block of Briarwood Drive, with felony possession of a controlled substance. The charge carries up to three years in prison.

• Miguel Covarrubias, 18, of the 400 block of Sherman Ave., with possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor that carries up to six months behind bars.

• Jason Allen, 25, of the 300 block of Marguerite Street, on four failure to appear in court warrants for driving under the influence and unlawful street gang contacts by a felon. The misdemeanors carry up to 364 days in jail.

• Joseph Dumas, 20, of the 300 block of North Jackson Street, on a warrant for failure to appear in court for unlawful possession of a firearm, a misdemeanor that carries up to a year in jail.

A non-parolee also was arrested. Evelio Banuelos, 21, of the 100 block of Lovell Street, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Banuelos, who faces up to six months in jail if convicted on the charges, was at the residence of one of the parolees, police said.

O'Shea said no one resisted arrest and all were taken into custody without incident. Police conduct at least one compliance check each year, he added.

"We try and target as many violent felons and gang members we can to ensure compliance," O'Shea said.