Mushroom Men Peddle Hallucinogens Right in Front of Law: Cops

BRAIDWOOD, IL — Two men sold hallucinogenic mushrooms in a Main Street parking lot as the cops looked on, police said.

Officers swooped in and arrested the men — 25-year-old Corey Brown and Michael Hoerler, 28 — right after the 12:45 p.m. Wednesday drug deal, police said. The Braidwood cops had reportedly been tipped off to the transaction in advance.

Officers recovered 10 psilocybin mushrooms weighing 4.2 grams, police said. Brown and Hoerler were taken to the Will County jail.

Hoerler recently moved to Illinois from southern California, police said. He and Brown live together in Braceville, according to police.

Following the arrests of Brown and Hoerler, Braidwood Police Chief Nick Ficarello issued a stern warning to drug dealers thinking of working around town.

“If you don’t want to be arrested,” Ficarello said, “stop bringing drugs into Braidwood and infecting our people."

Corey Brown (left) and Michael Hoerler | images via Will County Sheriff's Department