Evanston police have seized narcotics and cash and made an arrest following a months-long investigation into reported drug sales involving a street gang on the 300 block of Howard Street, they said in a news release.
Police arrested Andre Williams, 37, of the 900 block of Forest Avenue, Evanston. The arrest followed the search of a home, for which police said they had a court-approved warrant, on the 7200 block of North Wolcott Street in Chicago, not far from Evanston, on March 2.During the search, detectives recovered 30 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 38 grams of crack cocaine and over $460 in cash. Detectives also seized one vehicle at the residence.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged Williams with 10 felony counts. These include eight felony counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one felony count of possession with intent to deliver heroin and one felony count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
Detectives said Williams’ arrest was preceded by the department’s Special Operations Group assignment to investigate multiple drug sales near Howard Street in late 2025. Howard Street marks the border between Evanston and Chicago at that point. Evanston police believed the drug sales were conducted by individuals linked to a street gang.
Officers used surveillance to make “several minor drug arrests during the investigation,” according to the release, and these arrests helped Evanston police take steps to identify the individuals suspected of conducting the drug sales.
During the investigation, detectives also learned several sales were made to a residential care facility in Evanston, with some residents “being targeted” as part of the drug activity.
Evanston Police Commander Chelsea Brown told Pioneer Press that Williams has been the only individual arrested following the search warrant and that Williams is not currently in custody.
Williams has a scheduled court appearance on March 31 at the Skokie Courthouse.
An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
