Herrin, IL — A late-night bicycle stop on Christmas Day led to the arrest of a parolee and the recovery of methamphetamine in Williamson County, according to local authorities.
According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were patrolling near the intersection of Stotlar Street and North 20th Street at approximately 11:01 p.m. on Wednesday, December 25, when they observed two individuals riding bicycles. Deputies made contact with both individuals during the encounter.
Authorities identified the male subject as Samuel J. Garten, who was confirmed to be on Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR) through the Illinois Department of Corrections. During a search of Garten’s person, deputies allegedly located a clear plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the sheriff’s office.
Garten was taken into custody without incident.
The female accompanying him consented to a search of her person and belongings. Deputies reported no contraband was found, and she was released at the scene.
Garten was cited for possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony under 720 ILCS 570/402. He was transported to and remanded into the custody of the Williamson County Jail.
Following the arrest, the Illinois Department of Corrections issued a warrant revoking Garten’s parole status, officials said.
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information related to this or other investigations to contact the department at 618-997-6541 or submit a tip through the Williamson County Sheriff’s App, which allows users to remain anonymous.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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