‘‘I never saw it coming,’’ said Bears coach Lovie Smith when asked about Hurd’s arrest by federal agents. Hurd's teammates were also stunned and dismayed by Thursday's developments. But there were signs that Hurd had made some questionable choices even before signing with the Bears this off-season. more ›

Police and FBI agents rounded up over 100 members of the Traveling Vice Lords street gang this morning, the result of a long investigation that started two years ago. Among the gang members arrested was one who was once accused of murdering Detective Robert Soto in August 2008. more ›

If you're going to be transporting 50 kilos of cocaine in the trunk of your car, it's probably not a wise move to proudly display the statue of Mexico's patron saint of the underworld in your car. It's a lesson a pair of area men learned the hard way this weekend. Also? Don't park your car facing the wrong direction on the street that leads right to Cook County Sheriff's Police HQ. That's the initial violation that led sheriff's officers to investigate the car on Saturday night and during the investigation of the vehicle they spotted a statue of Jesús Malverde, considered the "narco-saint" in Mexico and the United States by drug traffickers. They also discovered that the driver, Jose Ramirez-Rodriguez, didn't have a license and a search of the car turned up 50 kilos of cocaine - worth around $19 million on the street - in the trunk, leading to the arrest of Ramirez-Rodriguez and his passenger Efrain Rodriguez-Juarez. A CPD officer told the Sun-Times of the appearance of the Malverde statue: "It definitely raises a flag. It tells you the guy might be prone to the kind of violence you see every day in Mexico." The men were charged with manufacturing/delivery of more than 900 grams of cocaine and possession of more than 900 grams of cocaine and are each being held on $1 million bond. more ›

James E. Pickett, 45, of the 8600 block of South Damen Avenue, was arrested on Friday and charged with felony possession of over 900 grams of heroin, according to a police statement via the Chicago Sun-Times. Pickett was arrested after a narcotics unit in the 2100 block of South Canal Street saw him engage in drug-related activity and pursued an investigation. With the assistance of a canine unit, police discovered $176,460 in Pickett's possession, along with 2 kilograms of heroin (an estimated street value of $200,000), and another $14,920 in drugs. Bond information was not available. more ›

And we mean huge. Yesterday, police arrested a Cicero man who 220 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle; the amount has a street value of over $1.5 million. But that's not all they found. The investigation took the officers to a nearby garage at 26th and Kildare where they found 25 kilos of coke (street value: $3.1 million), four pounds of methamphetamine (street value: $600,000), and a 9mm handgun. Herrera wasn't charged with the Scarface-esque coke discovery in the garage and police say the investigation is ongoing. [Tribune] more ›

75 marijuana plants were found in a Winnetka home on Wednesday when police executed a search warrant on a home in the 300 block of Hawthorn Lane. Police also found “further evidence of the production, use and distribution of [marijuana],” according to a Winnetka Police release. more ›

Keeping it all in the family, a Chicago firefighter has been placed on unpaid leave after he was charged with selling cocaine to a Department of Water Management worker. The firefighter, 62-year-old Ruben Santiago, was charged with "manufacture, delivery and possession of more than 15 grams of cocaine" while the DWM worker, 63-year-old Waldemar Cruz, was charged with "felony possession of a controlled substance." Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said, "At this time, there is no indication that anything illegal was done on city time. However, the conduct alleged clearly violates the oath taken to protect life." more ›

Two Little Village men were arrested yesterday with cocaine in their possession. How much cocaine? $19 million worth. A tip led CPD Narcotics officers to set up surveillance of a drug deal. Officers watched the deal which led to the arrests of Anastacio Esparza and Lorenzo Barrios. Esparza was driving a van containing 50 kilograms of blow and further investigation led to the arrest of Barrios who was found to be in possession of 104 kilograms at his home. more ›

Life imitates 24. A police officer snared in the sting that resulted in the arrests of multiple law enforcement officers in the fall claims he's innocent because he was working undercover, too. Archie Stallworth (pictured right) was one of several Harvey police officers and Cook County sheriffs arrested for an alleged drug conspiracy in which they took pay to allow drug dealers to keep their business flowing. Stallworth was arrested for making false police reports but handed said reports over to the Sun-Times and insist that they're not fake.

According to the charges against Stallworth, he met the undercover FBI agent at a south suburban fast-food restaurant July 26 to provide security for a meeting. Afterward, the agent paid Stallworth $300 and said he needed someone to provide security for drug deals. more ›