An Aurora drug suspect’s bid to have evidence, including nine kilograms of heroin and thousands in cash, suppressed fell short when a Kane County judge recently ruled police did not improperly detain him before a search of his Grove Street home in 2014.
Modesto Alarcon, 43, has pleaded not guilty to several charges accusing him of heroin possession and distribution, as well as financial crimes. He remains held in Kane County Jail on $15 million bail. The ruling by Judge Clint Hull marks the second time Alarcon has unsuccessfully tried to limit evidence available to prosecutors.
Hull’s most recent decision followed hearings last year in which Alarcon argued he was immediately confronted by police officers outside his home on April 1, 2014, and escorted into his home. Alarcon contended he did not sign a consent form to allow investigators to search the home, a vehicle and a detached garage.
Hull cited testimony of the officers, which he said indicated they didn’t initially have probable cause for an arrest and approached Alarcon “as part of a consensual encounter.” Alarcon led the officers into the home with his permission and a conversation followed, according to Hull’s ruling.
Authorities have said they found drugs with a street value of $1.35 million, $85,000 in cash, a loaded handgun and armor-piercing bullets during the search. Police sought Alarcon out after seeing him meet with two Evanston men who had $190,000 in cash on them during a traffic stop. The heroin seizure is believed to be the largest in the county’s history.
Alarcon, who is scheduled to return to court March 11, previously sought to have his statements to police thrown out on claims investigators did not inform him of his rights. Hull denied that motion last year.
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Dan Campana is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News