2024 Tesla Faces Seizure After Joliet Police Find Marijuana Inside: Forfeiture

JOLIET, IL — The Will County State's Attorney's Office is moving forward to confiscate a blue-colored 2024 Tesla belonging to Mokena citizens Eddy Curry and Mitchell Rashada following a Joliet police traffic stop on Larkin Avenue resulting in the discovery of 303 grams of marijuana, court files show.

According to last week's complaint, back on Nov. 11, Joliet police learned of a reckless driver at Larkin Avenue and Avalon Avenue. Joliet police officers learned that the owner had a revoked driver's license and suspended license plates for a mandatory insurance violation.

Officer Jorge Trujillo turned on his flashing lights and met with the driver, who was the only person inside, Jaqari Harvey. Harvey told Joliet police he had rented the vehicle. "It should be noted that the vehicle is titled under co-owners Eddy Curry III and Mitchell Rashada and not a rental company," the forfeiture noted.

Joliet police detained Harvey and searched the inside the new Tesla. Inside the trunk, officers found a gray backpack containing a large of marijuana, over 30 grams, prompting Harvey's arrest on suspicion of possession of suspected cannabis, court documents noted.

As the search continued, prosecutors said Officer Trujillo fond a large of amount of cash in a jewelry box in the vehicle, plus three small bags of marijuana in USD packaging in the center console. The forfeiture noted that a large amount of cash was found in Harvey's pocket while the prisoner was being brought back to the Joliet police station. Harvey had an outstanding traffic warrant out of DuPage County, and the cannabis recovered from inside the trunk of the Tesla weighed 303 grams, court files show.

Now, the Will County State's Attorney's Office has asked the judges to declare the blue 2024 Tesla as a forfeited asset for the police because the Tesla "was used or was intended to be used to transport controlled substances or facilitate transportation, sale, receipt, possession and concealment. The vehicle is also personal property which was used in a felony violation of the Controlled Substances Act."