Pet raccoon named Chewy found holding meth pipe in its mouth during traffic stop

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (TCN) -- Police made an unusual discovery this week when they pulled over a woman for a traffic stop and spotted a raccoon in the car with a meth pipe in its mouth.

According to the Springfield Township Police Department, on May 5 at 7:15 p.m., Officer Austin Branham conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle whose owner, Victoria Vidal, had an active warrant out for her arrest and a suspended license. Branham detaned Vidal, and when he turned back to her car, he "observed a raccoon named 'Chewy' sitting in the driver’s seat with a meth pipe in its mouth."

Police said the fact that the raccoon was holding a glass pipe gave them reason to search the car, and they uncovered a "bulk amount" of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and three used meth pipes. Branham said in a press conference that after taking the first pipe away from Chewy, the raccoon picked up a second one.

Vidal was arrested on three counts of drug paraphernalia and cited for driving under a suspended license. She was turned over to another department regarding her active warrant, but Vidal could face additional charges for crack possession following lab testing. Vidal reportedly had the proper paperwork to own Chewy.

Springfield Township Police said Chewy "was unharmed," adding, "While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first! No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident."

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