A two-month investigation involving a Sycamore home led to the arrest of at least three Sycamore residents on drug charges.

Barbara and Leonard Ludke, 38 and 42 respectively, Benjamin Crosby, 18, and a 16-year-old juvenile all were charged with possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia. Leonard Ludke also was charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition without a firearm owner’s identification card.

Police obtained a search warrant for the residence at 904 Esther Drive after receiving several complaints about suspected drug activity from concerned citizens and parents. The complaints stemmed mostly from an increase in traffic of juveniles in and out of the home.

More than 30 grams of what police believed to be cannabis were found, as well as more than 20 items of paraphernalia, two handguns and ammunition. All three adults were transported to the Sycamore Police Department and released pending an April court date. The juvenile was turned over to his guardian.

The Sycamore Police Department and the North Central Narcotics Task Force coordinated the investigation that led to the arrests.

Sergeant Jim Winters of the NCNTF said the task force receives between 65 and 75 tips a year from citizens concerned about an increase in traffic or unusual activity near a residence. Often they hear about people pulling up for short periods of time in front of a home or apartment.

Winters said the NCNTF acts on every tip, but the actions taken can vary between cases.

“The information can be limited on some complaints, so we give the information to local agencies so they are aware there could be a problem,” Winters said.

The information then is filed and compiled by both agencies. As more complaints come in, the information is filed with the other information.

“Much of our job is putting the pieces of the puzzle together,” Winters said.

Although no other individuals were arrested, several other juveniles were found at the residence, whose parents likely will be notified of the situation.

“Because some of those people were younger, we put more emphasis on follow-up and the notification of the parents,” Winters said.

“Much of our job is putting the pieces of the puzzle together.”

Jim Winters, sergeant of the ncntf