Elgin man arrested after trying to buy $28,000 in cocaine, police say

An Elgin man was arrested on a charge of possession of cocaine with intent to sell during a drug buy with what turned out to be police informant.

Martin Hernandez, 45, of the 100 block of Indian Drive in Elgin, was arrested around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the Days Inn motel on Dundee Avenue.

According to police reports: Hernandez gave $28,000 cash in a white plastic bag to a confidential police source waiting in the parking lot.

That source then called an undercover Elgin detective, who brought 1.2 kilograms of cocaine in a black cooler. The street value of the cocaine, Deputy Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said, is about $200,000.

As Hernandez opened up the cooler and began checking the cocaine, the detective asked for the money.

Hernandez pointed to the floor of the source's vehicle, where the bag of money was lying.

After doing that, the detective signaled for additional officers to surround the parking lot to arrest Hernandez.

Hernandez is being held on $500,000 bond, and was given a June 16 court date at the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles.

The bond was set so high, officials said, because police identified Hernandez as a flight risk capable of getting his hands on a lot of money.

Swoboda said Hernandez's arrest, which followed a two-week investigation, was a joint effort by the police department's drug and gang unit.