Nine charged in Kane drug busts

Kane County sheriff's deputies have arrested nine people this month at suspected drug houses across the area, police said Wednesday.

The operations targeted four individual households in Elgin, South Elgin and Aurora. Lt. Pat Gengler said there were separate investigations into each, but they all culminated this month with the seizures of small amounts of cannabis, cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

Gengler said the arrests should help neighborhoods struggling with low-level drug dealers.

"These smaller-level drug houses can have a larger impact on the community than the big ones," he said. "The neighborhoods are really affected by what's going on at these houses, users pulling up at all hours."

Police carried out the most recent search March 17 on the 400 block of Wilder Street in Aurora. According to police, Dustin J. Allen, 31, was charged after officers found 23 grams of cocaine, 60 grams of marijuana and several prescription pills at his home and in his pockets.

On March 15, three South Elgin residents were arrested after police seized about 16 grams of marijuana and several pieces of drug paraphernalia from their home on the 1000 block of Mark Street. Charged with possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia, police said, were Donald E. Bridges, 21; James B. Bridges, 19; and Anthony M. Mihelich, 59.

Police said they found about 16 more grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia March 11 during a search on the 800 block of Washburn Street, Elgin. Juan C. Guzman, 20, and Armando Mora-Nino, 41, were each charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

On March 4, three others were arrested on marijuana and drug paraphernalia charges after police seized nearly 80 grams of cannabis, a digital scale and glass pipes from a South Elgin residence on the 1100 block of Fulton Drive. Charged were Katie E. James, 33, of Streamwood, and Virginio Casas III, 34, and Latonya Casas, 29, of the Fulton Drive address.

Gengler said the arrests "speak to the dedication of our guys here."

"They take a little bit of information and go as far as they can with it," he said.