Two charged after sheriff’s dog sniffs out drugs during traffic stop

Two people are facing felony drug charges after a Lake County Sheriff’s Office dog sniffed out more than a half-kilogram of cocaine during a recent traffic stop, officials said.

According to a sheriff’s office news release, a vehicle traveling around Interstate 94 and Route 22 near Lincolnshire Wednesday evening was pulled over by officers from the department’s special investigations group, a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area-funded task force.

During the stop, the police dog, Duke, was deployed to perform a “free-air sniff” around the outside of the vehicle. Duke indicated the presence of drugs and a search resulted in the discovery of the cocaine, according to the release.

The driver, Melissa M. Coquillard, 33, of Hampshire, and her passenger, Martin Gonzalez, 36, of South Elgin, each were charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Coquillard also was charged with speeding.