Arrest warrant issued in Smoke Break investigation

Benton — An arrest warrant has been issued for Erin Williams, a clerk at The Smoke Break, located in Benton.

Williams has been charged with four counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.  The alleged offenses took place within 1,000 feet of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, making the charges each a Class 2 felony.

Law enforcement officers from Illinois State Police, Benton Police Department, West City Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department converged on The Smoke Break, located at 601 West Main last week armed with a search warrant.  The search warrant was obtained based on information conducted by state police and the Benton Police Department.

The Smoke Break has been the scene of police raids in the past.  Last year law enforcement officers searched the business as part of an investigation centered around allegations into the alleged delivery of a controlled substance analog or synthetic drug. Bath salts, spice and incense are oftentimes sold as a synthetic drug, which is illegal in the state of Illinois.