Two arrested in Fox Lake with quarter pound of cannabis

Two people were arrested after a traffic altercation with more than one-quarter of a pound of cannabis, Fox Lake Police officials said.

Justin Diedrich, 20, of the 26000 block of Grand Avenue in Ingleside, and Melissa Cole, 25, of the 600 block of S. 500W in Hebron, Ind., were charged with unlawful possession of cannabis of over 30 grams following their arrest Monday, Lt. Mark Schindler said.

Police officers were called to a traffic altercation between a black BMW and a white Cadillac that involved people fighting at about 3 p.m. on Grand Avenue,

Schindler said. The people in the vehicles were arguing while armed with a crowbar and pipes, but both vehicles fled the scene prior to police arriving.

A short time later, the white Cadillac was spotted eastbound on Grand Avenue and officers attempted to stop the car, Schindler said.

The Cadillac refused to pull over at first, Schindler said, but eventually stopped about a mile away at the Squaw Creek bridge on Route 59.

When the car finally stopped, Schindler said, Diedrich jumped out of the vehicle with a backpack and fled into the swampy area. However, he had trouble navigating the area and officers took him into custody a short time later.

Schindler said the backpack was discovered moments later and police confiscated about one-quarter pound of cannabis that was individually packaged for sale.

Cole, who was also arrested at the scene, was searched and had several small plastic bags of cannabis and a digital scale in her possession, Schindler said.

Each was charged with one count unlawful possession of cannabis and a single count of unlawful delivery of cannabis.

They were taken to Lake County bond court Tuesday, Schindler said. Cole is held in lieu of $10,000 bond, while Diedrich remained held on $15,000 bond.