Felony: Pain Pills Found in Purse During Traffic Stop

A New Lenox woman faces felony charges after a traffic stop led to the discovery of narcotic pain pills in her purse.

Taryn A. Santefort, 22, of the 1100 block of Hickory Creek Drive in New Lenox, is charged with possession a controlled substance, a felony, as well as possession of a narcotic instrument and possession of cannabis, both misdemeanors.

A Frankfort police officer was on patrol at 3:15 p.m. Feb. 3 on the 9500 block of Lincoln Highway, when he saw a blue Dodge Stratus with an expired registration sticker.

The officer attempted to perform a traffic stop near the intersection at Elsner Road, but the car did not immediately stop. As the vehicle slowed, the officer saw the passenger, Santefort, reaching toward the floorboard and back seat of the car.

Once the car came to a stop, the officer smelled burnt cannabis coming from the vehicle as he spoke to the driver. The officer also determined that the registration sticker on the vehicle did not match the license plate. The driver told the officer he found the sticker and put it on his car.

When asked about the smell and suspicious movement, Santefort admitted that she had cannabis and a bowl in her purse, according to police reports.

The officer also found a prescription bottle containing three pills, which were identified by police as hydrocodone, when searching her purse. The name on the bottle did not match Santefort’s and police reports state that she told the officer that the pills were not prescribed to her.

The driver of the car was cited and released.

Santefort was arrested, processed and transported to Will County Jail. Her court date is Feb. 25.

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Police report information is provided by the Frankfort Police Department, Will County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.

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