Lake County to reward Ecstasy tipsters

Lake County officials are trying to head off an expected seasonal increase in the use of an illegal drug popular among young people with a new reward program.

The Lake County sheriff's office, Crime Stoppers and Metropolitan Enforcement Group are offering $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of anyone possessing or selling the hallucinogen Ecstasy.

Assistant State's Attorney Suzanne Willett, chief of the drug prosecution unit, said Ecstasy use and trafficking traditionally increases in the late spring and early summer.

"Between the high school students going to prom and the college students coming home on break, we generally see more Ecstasy activity around this time of year," Willett said. "We are hoping the idea of a reward will get us plugged into some major cases."

She said people can call the Crime Stoppers tip line at (847) 662-2222 with information to qualify for the reward.

A person calling Crime Stoppers is not required to identify themselves, and all information is kept confidential.