Woodstock Man Arrested on Heroin Related Charges

A Woodstock man already on probation was arrested last week on several drug-related charges after McHenry County Sheriff's deputies searched his home and allegedly found $500 worth of heroin.

According to a sheriff's department press release, Edward Mercado, 39, 1811 Woodside Dr., was charged with:

• Unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution (Class 2)
• Unlawful possession of a controlled substance (Class 4)
• Unlawful possession of hypodermic syringes and needles (Class A)
• Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A)

The Sheriff's Office received a tip that heroin was being sold from Mercado's residence, Sheriff Keith Nygren said. Sheriff’s deputies and the Woodstock Police Department's K-9 officer conducted a surveillance of the residence.

After "obtaining enough probable cause," members of the sheriff's SWAT Team, Led Policing Unit, Narcotics Unit and Woodstock Police Department executed a search warrant on April 17 at 1811 Woodside Drive, Nygren said.

Deputies recovered about three grams of heroin, packaging materials, manufacturing materials and hypodermic syringes and needles, the release stated.

Mercado was on court-ordered McHenry County Probation for two other previous heroin related cases, Nygren said in the release.

Undersheriff Andrew Zinke estimated the street value of the heroin seized at $500, the release stated. Mercado is being held on $12,000 bond, and is scheduled to appear in court April 25.