An Ohio woman was arrested after police discovered her pet raccoon holding a meth pipe in the driver’s seat during a routine traffic stop — an incident authorities are calling a “strange encounter on patrol.”
The bizarre event unfolded around 7:15 p.m. Monday when Officer Austin Branham of the Springfield Township Police Department pulled over a vehicle on South Arlington Road. The car’s registered owner, later identified as 55-year-old Victoria Vidal of Akron, had a suspended license and an active warrant.
According to a police statement, Vidal was detained without incident. But things quickly took an unusual turn.
“As Officer Branham returned to the vehicle, he observed a raccoon named Chewy sitting in the driver’s seat with a meth pipe in its mouth,” the department said. “Chewy had somehow gotten hold of a glass methamphetamine pipe, prompting a more thorough search of the vehicle.”
Authorities confirmed that Chewy is a domesticated pet raccoon and that Vidal possessed the required documentation to legally own him. However, a subsequent vehicle search uncovered a bulk quantity of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and three used glass pipes.
Vidal now faces multiple charges, including third-degree felony drug possession, three counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, and driving under suspension. She was also handed over to the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department on her outstanding warrant, where additional charges for crack cocaine possession are pending lab results.
Police assured the public that Chewy was unharmed and that proper animal control authorities were notified to verify Vidal’s documentation for owning the raccoon.
“While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first!” police said. “No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident. As always, we remain committed to keeping our community safe — no matter what surprises come our way.”
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