Police find pet raccoon holding meth pipe during traffic stop: ‘He’s trying to smoke it’

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (Gray News) – A police officer in Ohio was shocked to find a raccoon holding a meth pipe following its owner’s arrest.

According to the Springfield Township Police Department, on Monday evening, officer Austin Branham conducted a traffic stop after identifying a vehicle whose owner had an active warrant and a suspended license.

During the stop, the officer detained the driver without incident. She was identified as 55-year-old Victoria Vidal.

But then, things took an unusual turn. When the officer returned to Vidal’s vehicle, he saw a pet raccoon named Chewy sitting in the driver’s seat with a meth pipe in his hands and mouth.

Bodycam video shows the officer hardly being able to contain his laughter.

“I sh*t you not, come here,” he tells the other responding officer. “The raccoon has her meth pipe. He’s playing with a meth pipe right now.”

He keeps laughing.

“The raccoon’s playing with her meth pipe,” he says. “He’s trying to smoke it! There’s no way.”

The video shows the officer immediately taking the pipe away from the animal.

Officers then inspected the vehicle and said they found a bulk amount of meth, crack cocaine and three used glass meth pipes.

Thankfully, Chewy was unharmed. Police said Vidal had the proper documentation to prove she owns him.

Vidal was charged with possession of drugs and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also cited for driving on a suspended license.

Police said additional drug charges will be presented to a grand jury, pending lab results.

Springfield Township police said Vidal was turned over to Cuyahoga Falls police on her active warrant.

“While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first! No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident,” the department said. “As always, we remain committed to keeping our community safe — no matter what surprises may come our way.”

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