Illinois Man Charged With Drug Offenses After Trespassing at U.S. Steel
Gary- According to court documents, police were dispatched to U.S. Steel — 1 North Virginia Street on August 25, 2024, in reference to a male trespassing there. A representative on scene advised there was a male without clothing on that appeared to be under the influence and needed help, and directed the responding officer to a silver vehicle.
The officer approached the vehicle and observed a male in the driver’s seat whose pupils were restricted, whose movements were scattered, whose hands would not stop moving, and who was sweating profusely. The male identified himself by Illinois driver’s license as Rogelio Raul Perez, 50.
The male explained he was there because his wife dropped him off in her vehicle and left for Bolingbrook, Illinois, which did not make sense because he was already in a vehicle alone. He was asked to call his wife but could not operate his cell phone. The male admitted he smoked marijuana and that there was cocaine in his arm rest.
The officer observed white powdery substance on the driver’s side floorboard and in the cupholder and located two baggies of powdery substance in the center armrest. Perez voluntarily declared the substance was cocaine mixed with fentanyl, which was collected as evidence.
The seized substance weighed 55.8 grams and field-tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. According to the affidavit, this amount is considered per se possession with the intent to deliver under Indiana Code.
Charges filed September 18,2025:
• Dealing in a Narcotic Drug; Possess with Intent, > 10g — Level 2 Felony
• Dealing in Cocaine; Possession with Intent, > 10g — Level 2 Felony
• Possession of a Narcotic Drug; > 28g — Level 3 Felony
• Possession of Cocaine; > 28g — Level 3 Felony
Lodged in the Lake County Jail on October 14, 2025.
