Narcotics unit raids home, arrests 2

Law enforcement officials arrested two men and recovered more than a pound of cannabis, $4,000 in cash and a .38 revolver when they raided a house on Ash Street Wednesday. Officials from the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group arrested Robert Hutchinson, 27, of Evanston and Ricardo Salgado, 19, a John A. Logan College student who lives at the house, which is located at 410 S. Ash St.

Hutchinson is charged with manufacturing, delivering and possessing cannabis. Salgado, who police say returned home during the raid after appearing in court in Effingham on other drug charges, was charged with manufacturing, delivering and possessing cannabis as well as unlawful use of a weapon and failing to obtain a valid firearms identification card. Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Robert Fierstein, director of the unit that conducted the raid, said the group obtained a search warrant for the home pursuant to an ongoing investigation in cannabis trafficking. Fierstein said officials received multiple tips from the community about drug activity at the home, including people who bought cannabis from that location. "We felt it was credible information, and we followed up on that information," Fierstein said.

A female neighbor, who wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said she saw about 15 officers with machine guns surround the house and arrest two men. "I heard a girl scream and came outside, and there were people standing around just watching," said the woman, who is an SIUC student. "Everyone was like, 'What the hell is going on?' I can't believe it happened; it was so bizarre. I have never even seen the people who live there. Everyone around here usually keeps to themselves. Now I'm scared."

Salgado and Hutchinson remain incarcerated at the Jackson County Jail in Murphysboro. Bail is set at $5,000 for each. The enforcement group is a multi-jurisdictional investigation unit that targets narcotics and utilizes law enforcement officials from Jackson, Williamson and Union counties. Fierstein said the men are facing Class 3 felonies and, if convicted to the full extent of the law, may serve two to five years each.