Drugs on the South Side!

By Kevin Robinson in News on Feb 23, 2010 3:20PM

Police Photo

The Cook County Sheriff's office shut down two drug operations on the South side over the weekend. In Chicago's South Deering neighborhood, a public school librarian and another man who's a lecturer at UIC were arrested and charged with growing marijuana in their home. Heidi Keller, who works as a librarian at Chinatown's Haines Elementary School, and Adrian Ortiz were arrested Friday at a home they shared at 3500 block of South Sangamon Street. Police say they spent about three months investigating the couple, who are charged with growing pot at a home on on the 10000 block of South Exchange Street. The couple say the bought the property as an investment. Police told the Tribune that there is "no evidence it was being used for anything other than a marijuana growing operation." Police say they found eight irrigation tables with 186 marijuana plants. They also found a complex lighting system and a system of water pumps set on timers.

In South suburban Glenwood, Cook County Sheriff's police broke up a meth lab operating out of a home and another in a minivan. Kevin Halter, 51, was arrested Friday night while driving what police termed a "mobile meth lab" away from his home. Halter's roommate George Wagner, aged 56, was arrested later that evening in the home they shared. Police found more drugs and meth making equipment in the property. "This investigation began with a tip to our officers by somebody concerned about what these two were making and the effects it has on users," county sheriff Tom Dart said in a press statement. "But there was also concern for those living near the house, as well as anyone driving near the van they were using." Halter is charged with six felonies, and Wagner is charged with four.