Man arrested after deputies find young children in car with drugs, syringes

HERRIN, Ill. (KBSI) – A man faces multiple drug and endangering the life/health of a child charges after a traffic stop.

Kortrell D. Johnson Jr. faces charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, endangering the life or health of a child, improper lane usage and improper turn signal.

Deputies with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office say they saw a driver commit multiple traffic violations while traveling northbound on Illinois Route 148 in Herrin around 7:55 p.m. on June 20. They stopped the vehicle.

Kortrell D. Johnson Jr. was identified as the driver.

While speaking to Johnson, deputies smelled “the strong odor of cannabis emitting from the vehicle’ which was occupied by three young children.

The children were ages 2, 3 and a 13-day-old infant.

Deputies conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and say they found a white crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.

They say they also found a black bag containing five Alprazolam pills (a schedule 4 controlled substance), two hypodermic syringes that field tested positive for methamphetamine which were wrapped in a diaper next to one of the children.

Deputies say they also found 15 unsealed bags labeled “premium cannabis” on the rear floorboard.

A report was made with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

The children and their belongings were taken to their mother.

Johnson was taken to the Williamson County Jail.