CLEVELAND – Indians pitcher Chris Perez and his wife Melanie have been charged with a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance after a search warrant was served at their Rocky River home Tuesday.
Police said the evidence examined from a suspicious package delivered to the home contained a little more than a third of a pound of marijuana, or 163.9 grams, and Chris Perez admitted marijuana found in his home was for his own use.
The Perez delivery, addressed to a “Brody Baum” and sent as priority mail from Los Angeles, was cited by Postal Inspector Marc Kudley for a smell of marijuana, according to a United States Postal Service report. A Cleveland police drug-sniffing K-9 confirmed the smell. Baum is Melanie Perez’s maiden name, according to the report.
On Monday, the USPS obtained federal search warrants for the parcel, which contained marijuana concealed in four separate resealable bags greased in Vaseline, two plastic resealable containers and wrapped in a shirt.
Investigators from Westshore Enforcement Bureau and Kudley, acting undercover as a USPS Letter Carrier, carried out the search warrant Tuesday. Kudley presented the parcel to Melanie Perez who said it was for their dog named “Brody.”
When officers initially entered the home to carry out the search warrant that afternoon, a baby sitter and two sleeping children were inside the home. Minutes later, the enforcement bureau report said, the Perezes returned home and were given a copy of the search warrant.
Chris Perez voluntarily escorted officers to the basement of the home and admitted all the suspected marijuana and paraphernalia was his for personal use, according to the Rocky River police report.
In the basement, the enforcement bureau said they found two separate mason jars with a substance suspected to be marijuana. Police said Perez opened a cabinet drawer and pointed out a round metal grinder as his as well.
Chris and Melanie Perez were served the criminal complaints Thursday afternoon and released on personal bond. Officers said no further charged will be filed against the two.
Police said only the Perezes, not the previous homeowner, are being investigated in connection with this incident.
The Perezes are scheduled to be arraigned June 19 at 9 a.m.
LOCAL: Indians Pitcher Chris Perez and Wife Charged with Marijuana Possession was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
