Alleged drug deal ends with crash in New Lenox
June 25, 2012 10:24PM
Updated: July 27, 2012 6:12AM
A drug deal that literally took a bad turn — resulting in a vehicle flipping over — left a Chicago man and a Bridgeview man facing a variety of charges, New Lenox police said.
Philip Cassello, 26, of Chicago, was charged with two counts of armed robbery, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful use of a firearm, and David Salup, 37, of 7315 W. 71st St. in Bridgeview, was charged with delivery of marijuana, police said.
Police were called about 4 p.m. June 20 to investigate a crash in the 100 block of West Illinois Highway, police said. The vehicle’s occupants were seen running from the scene carrying large bags. Officers found the men on Pine Street, about one block north of Illinois Highway, and found about 2 pounds of marijuana hidden under a bush, as well as a handgun that had been tossed into a nearby yard, Deputy Police Chief Bob Pawlisz said.
Police said Cassello and Salup met for a drug deal in the parking lot of a strip mall near the crash scene. The transaction occurred in Cassello’s vehicle, where Salup delivered 2 pounds of marijuana to sell to Cassello, police said.
After Cassello took possession of the pot, he allegedly displayed a handgun and demanded money from Salup, police said. A brief struggle ensued and Cassello attempted to speed out of the parking lot, but failed to complete the turn onto Illinois Highway, lost control of the vehicle and flipped over, police said.
When officers found the men, one of them was bleeding, Pawlisz said. They were treated at Silver Cross Hospital and released.
The location chosen for the drug deal was arbitrary and not associated with any New Lenox resident or business, police said.
Susan DeMar Lafferty
