18 Dogs, Guns, Machete Seized In Raid Of Ford Heights Home: Sheriff

FORD HEIGHTS, IL — A raid of a Ford Heights home led to the recovery of weapons, cash, drugs and 18 dogs, and the arrest of two people, the Cook County Sheriff's Office said Saturday.

Sheriff’s Police Organized Crime Investigators on Jan. 7 executed a search warrant in the 1400 block of Deer Creek Lane in Ford Heights following an investigation into narcotics sales at the location.

Investigators recovered:

• 6 firearms, including a ghost gun.
• 2 bows, a cross bow, and arrows.
• Three knives and a machete.
• 32.5 grams of crack cocaine and 3 lorazepam pills.
• firearms, bows, arrows, drugs, dogs
• more than $6,700 in cash

Jason Thomas, 49, and Jermaine Thomas, 49, were taken into custody. Neither man had a FOID nor a concealed carry license, the sheriff's office said.

On Jan. 8, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Jason Thomas with manufacturing/delivery of cocaine, possession of cocaine and felon in possession of a weapon.

Jermaine Thomas was charged with four counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon.

Both were ordered to Cook County Jail custody on Jan. 9 following their initial court appearances at the Markham Courthouse. The dogs were turned over to the custody of Cook County Animal Control.

Cook County Animal Control then contacted South Suburban Humane Society, which took the dogs into its care.

"On Wednesday night, we received a call," the shelter shared on social media. "Eighteen dogs in one home needed a place to go. We met the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control at our shelter and made room wherever we could for this large number of dogs."

The dogs include a female and her nine puppies just days old. The mother has been named Ramen, and puppies are unnamed. Several other adult dogs have been named Poutine, Risotto, Tandoori, and Ceviche. Three other dogs were transported to Evanston Animal Shelter, South Suburban Humane Society said.

The dogs are suffering from heartworm, skin conditions, allergies and more. The shelter is seeking donations for their care.