A Chicago man was denied pre-trial release for allegedly trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine across state lines, according to a news release from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office.
Brock Okennard, 45, of the 200 block of W. 106th Place, was arrested and charged last week with multiple felonies, according to the news release. Those charges include the following:
- One count of Possession of Methamphetamine (Class X Felony)
- One count of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine (Class X Felony),
- Two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Cocaine (one Class X Felony and one Class 1 Felony)
- One count of Manufacture/Delivery of cannabis (Class 2 Felony)
- One count of Possession of Cannabis (Class 3 Felony)
- Three counts of Resisting a Police Officer Causing Injury (Class 4 Felony)
On Nov. 8, Naperville police were notified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that Okennard, who was suspected of trafficking methamphetamine from California to Illinois, would be exiting an Amtrak train in Naperville, per the release. Okennard had two outstanding warrants for his arrest.
Naperville police observed Okennard exit the train depot at 105 4th Avenue around 1:30 p.m. When officers said they tried to speak to him, the release said, Okennard allegedly walked away from them, at which point an officer said Okennard had two outstanding warrants and was under arrest.
As Okennard allegedly tried to run away from the officers, one officer grabbed Okennard by his arm and the backpack he was wearing. He was arrested following “a brief scuffle,” which resulted in Okennard and three officers sustaining minor injuries, the release said. Both Okennard and the officers were taken to a hospital, where they were treated and released.
When officers searched Okennard’s backpack, they allegedly found about “153.6 grams of a pink powdery substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine,” the release said. Officers also allegedly found about 993.7 grams of cannabis in the backpack.
Following an investigation into the matter, the state’s attorney’s office said it alleged that Okennard traveled to Illinois from California by train with the narcotics in his backpack. Okennard’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 8 in front of Judge Brian Telander, the release said.
It is the second time in a week that a person has been arrested and charged for drug trafficking. Last week, Naperville police arrested 30-year-old Ahmad Dinah of the 1100 block of Iroquois Avenue, Naperville, after authorities said Dinah had 1,000 fentanyl pills sent to him from California.
In that incident, Dinah’s package was intercepted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on Nov. 3. Inspectors found that the package contained around 1,000 tablets with fentanyl in them. Authorities said in a statement they observed Dinah retrieve the package at his apartment complex mailroom and take it to his apartment on Nov. 5. Shortly after, officers knocked on the apartment door, executed a search warrant, conducted a search of Dinah’s apartment and found the narcotics removed from the package.
The amount of fentanyl found “is enough to kill entire cities,” DuPage State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the statement.
Dinah has since been arrested and charged with one count of controlled substance trafficking (Class X Felony), one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver – fentanyl (Class X Felony) and one count of possession of a controlled substance (Class 4 Felony).
“Drug dealers don’t recognize borders between states, counties and our communities,” Berlin said in a news release. “They move from one town to another spreading addiction, pain and misery. That is why working with our state and federal partners is so important. By working together, we can hold those who market in misery accountable.”
Dinah was denied pre-trial release. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 21.
cstein@chicagotribune.com
