Tip Leads to Pair's Arrest on Prescription Drug Charges

A tip led to the arrest of two Belleville residents who were in possession of Oxycodone and Xanax, police said.

Police received a tip saying a Ford F-150 pickup truck was involved with dealing drugs near Mount Prospect and Holmes Street, according to the report.

Belleville police then set up surveillance in the area on Thursday, Jan. 9, during which they saw a black truck fitting the tipster’s description, according to the report.

Police pulled over the truck after seeing the driver on his cell. After police stopped the vehicle, the driver, Michael John, 23, of Belleville, handed the female passenger a cellophane wrapper filled with blue pills later identified as the addictive prescription painkiller Oxycodone, according to the report.

Police took John and his passenger, Sandra Yonko, 49, of Belleville, out of the vehicle. During a search, John and Yonko were found to have 92 Oxycodone pills and 18 and a half Xanax, police said.

Both were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 100 feet of a school. John was also charged with moving violations.

Yonko and John were each held on $100,000 bail.