Thanks to a sharp-eyed Woodstock Police officer, the department may get another crack at opening up the Beth Bentley missing-person case.
On June 20, Ryan Ridge, 28, was driving in Woodstock, catching a few tunes through the earplugs of whatever was playing the music through a two-sided headset, and an officer observed the traffic violation and stopped him. Absent any other violations, he might have gotten off with a warning. After all, it's an obscure law and, if you are otherwise driving safely, it probably doesn't merit a $120 ticket.
But, according to a Complaint filed with the McHenry County Circuit Court, there was another problem. This problem was in the form of 16 hypodermic needles, 15 baggies of something marked with a "Super Man" emblem (anybody know what that is?), a string, and a bottle cap with some "residue" in it.
Ryan has a court date on July 21 at 8:30AM, and the wheels of justice will begin turning. No lawyer is yet of record, but he has used Ray Flavin in the past. What's important about all this?
Ryan Ridge is the man whom Jennifer Wyatt, 37, went to visit on May 20, 2010 in Mount Vernon, Ill. And why is this important? Because the woman missing from Woodstock for over a year now, Beth Bentley, supposedly rode to Mount Vernon with Jennifer on May 20.
Would possession of 16 hypodermic needles and 15 little baggies of something with a "Super Man" emblem on them be some kind of indicator of drug use? Could possession at this time be connected to that week-end? If a person got caught with drug paraphernalia in 2007 and now in 2011, what are the chances that there might have been use between those dates? Who is the supplier? Somebody here in Woodstock?
Talk, Ryan; talk...
The maximum penalty for possession of paraphernalia could be a year in the County Jail. Could this give the Woodstock PD some leverage with Ryan? Has he ever given a statement about that week-end in Mount Vernon? Maybe he'd like to give another statement now. Would his memory of that week-end be a little clearer now?
And he could certainly tell the Woodstock P.D. about his source for the paraphernalia. Did Woodstock P.D. have the "Super Man"-labeled stuff in the baggies, if there was "stuff" in the baggies, tested? And the lab said it's ... what?
The State's Attorney's Office should say, "No deal. You're going away for 364 days. Start talking..."
BTW, you haven't read about this in the paper because the Northwest Herald is about three months behind in publishing Woodstock PD Crime Reports. If you think the NWH ought to do a better job, let them know.
You never know who is interested…
3 months ago
10 comments:
Typically if the "Superman STUFF" in the packages is paper or film like, it is "blotter acid" AKA LSD.
The description and quantity came from the Complaint filed by the Woodstock officer.
Thanks for another reader, who offered more information:
"Too little information in your blog but rather than post to the blog I will offer this. It sounds like BLOTTER ACID
"LSD is commonly sold as blotter acid. Blotter paper or any porous paper is cut into small squares approximately the size of a postage stamp. Usually smaller. The better made Blotter acid has perforations to tear off much like a postage stamp. Each square is stamped with an image. Superman, MIcky Mouse, Signs of the Zodiac etc but cartoon characters are very popular. A particular IMAGE will be known to be a better quality acid. Each square is sold individually.
"Each square is has a droplet of LSD applied and the buyer places it in their mouth and soon they are tripping. The paper must be tested at a crime lab to show the presence of LSD. That is a Class 4 felony for any amount. The class goes up from there depending on quantity."
Good article Gus...factual and accurate. I agree with you, too, I think he should sit for 364 days.
Good article Gus. Factual and accurate. I too wish he would sit for 364 days until he talked or cleaned up.
I have a question though...is it typical for someone to have that much LSD? Or would this qualify as 'intent to distribute'?
And this, from still another reader. Thanks!
"Interesting question raised in your blog about what superman is.
"Did a little research and it could be one of three things:
"1) Crack cocaine is sometimes called superman or kryptonite.
2) Crystal meth - Meth has also been known to boost the user's self-confidence, causing many users to be overcome by what is called 'superman syndrome".
3) LSD is also known to be called Superman (if there were pills in the bag, they would be generally purple pills with an "S" symbol on them; assuming that would be the symbol for the drug manufacturing company).
Those who inject heroin use a set of paraphernalia that includes hypodermic needles, small cotton balls used to strain the drug, spoons or bottle caps for "cooking" (liquefying) the heroin, and a "tie-off" that the user wraps around his or her arm to make his or her veins protrude. Paraphernalia for sniffing or smoking heroin can include razor blades, straws, rolled dollar bills, and pipes. Also, balloons are used as a method of transporting and/or trafficking the drug.
Source:http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/heroin.asp
Pretty good chance it's heroine based on the syringes and bottle caps described above.
Thanks for the info, Derrek. And thanks to all the readers.
Quite an education here.
Gus said. "3) LSD is also known to be called Superman (if there were pills in the bag, they would be generally purple pills with an "S" symbol on them; assuming that would be the symbol for the drug manufacturing company"
Wrong Gus. There is not any LSD manufactured by a drug company. This is back room stuff.
Like I said, without a better description of what the item inside the bags that was marked SUPERMAN it a guessing game.
I know this is a little late. Just found your site through reading up on the Beth Bentley case. The "Superman" bags aren't LSD. They are small paper baggies used to package heroin. Baggies are stamped with different names that represent quality and origin. The needles are for injecting the heroin. Dumb ass probably wouldn't have been driving around with head phones on if the baggies had been full...then you never know. Good work on this story, btw!
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