The state Department of Public Safety busted two different drivers in five hours Thursday trying to move drugs along I-40, a favorite corridor for drug couriers.
At 8 a.m., an officer stopped a van for following too closely on eastbound I-40 near Flagstaff.
Inside the car was five pounds of methamphetamine and officers arrested Adalberto Castro, 26, an illegal immigrant, according to Bart Graves, DPS spokesman.
Graves said the license plates on Castro’s van were specialty plates commemorating fallen police officers.
At 1 p.m., officers stopped a speeder heading east near Winslow.
A police dog, Barry, sniffed out 12 “eight balls” of crack cocaine. An eight ball is one-eighth of an ounce. The drug is sold to individual addicts by the gram.
Barry also found five grams of methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana.
Arrested were Jackie Tucker, 39, and Cinthya Hamilton, 20, both of San Francisco.
Archive for February, 2008Troopers bust suspected drug runners on I-40February 29th, 2008, 10:11 am by Gary GradoMan attempts suicide in jailFebruary 29th, 2008, 8:04 am by Gary GradoA 38-year-old man arrested on a drunken driving warrant tried to hang himself in Chandler’s jail Thursday. Police recommend charges against man detectives shotFebruary 28th, 2008, 4:56 pm by Katie McDevittPolice are recommending charges be filed against a man Mesa detectives shot and wounded Feb. 21 after he allegedly swerved his car at them. Joseph Levesque, 44, is being held in the Maricopa County Jail Hospital Ward on suspicion of one count aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor and disorderly conduct involving weapons. Joseph Levesque’s wife, Sherry Levesque said Thursday that she has hired an attorney to look into the police shooting that she believes was unwarranted. Man pours flammable liquid onto counter, drops lit cigaretteFebruary 28th, 2008, 3:08 pm by Katie McDevittPolice are searching for a man who on Wednesday poured flammable liquid onto a counter at a The incident began about 4:20 p.m. when a man got into an argument with employees at AutoZone, 35 E. Broadway Road. Police said the man then poured what smelled like gasoline onto the front counter and dropped a lit cigarette into the fluid. Although the substance didn’t ignite, police believe the man was attempting to commit arson. The man left the store and drove away in a 1992 cream-colored Cadillac with the He is described as white, 5 feet 10 inches, 185 pounds with brown hair, a brown goatee and wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants. Police haven’t provided the media with any surveillance video. 4-car crash hurts 4February 27th, 2008, 10:01 pm by Eddi TrevizoMesa police and fire responded to a four-vehicle collision that left four people hospitalized. The accident occurred around 5:15 p.m. at 48th and Main streets and involved numerous patients who were taken to Scottsdale Memorial Hospital-Osborn, said Chief Mike Dunn, spokesperson for the Mesa fire department. Mesa police officials said there were four patients being transported and the extent of their injuries was unknown Wednesday. Mesa police also added that at least one of the transported patients had complained about chest pains. The immediate cause of the accident was still under investigation. Woman sprays robber with MaceFebruary 27th, 2008, 12:29 pm by Katie McDevittA woman sprayed a man with Mace Tuesday in Tempe after he grabbed her from behind and struck her in the face while trying to take her car keys. Police said the assault occurred about 9:30 p.m. in the area of Apache Boulevard and River Drive. The assailant ran away in an unknown direction and wasn’t able to steal anything from the woman.Police searched the area, but couldn’t find the man. He is described as black, 5 feet 8 inches, 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Pedestrian arrested on freewayFebruary 27th, 2008, 11:31 am by Gary GradoPolice shut down eastbound US 60 near Alma School Road for a short time Wednesday to arrest a man who was walking on the highway. Man arrested on suspicion of beating pregnant girlfriendFebruary 27th, 2008, 10:56 am by Gary GradoMesa police arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of domestic violence Wednesday after a fight with his pregnant girlfriend. Another smoke shop robbed on same day police arrest suspect in earlier crimeFebruary 26th, 2008, 2:50 pm by Katie McDevittA gunman robbed a Mesa smoke shop Monday on the same day police arrested a suspect in another smoke shop robbery. Oscar Grey, 20, who said he has no permanent address and stays with family and friends, was arrested on suspicion of a Feb. 19 armed robbery at Mesa Tobacco and Pipes Plus, where a shotgun was pointed at a clerk. He was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery and booked into Maricopa County Jail, court records show. Court records allege Grey made away with cash that was never recovered and ditched his shotgun, took off his outer layer of clothes and untied his pony-tail in an attempt to alter his appearance. Police said Grey was identified in a photo lineup. In Monday’s robbery at Smoke Shop, 3614 E. Southern Ave., the gunman is still on the loose. He is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 10 inches, 200 pounds, about 40 years old with a shaved head. Man carjacked during test driveFebruary 26th, 2008, 2:37 pm by Gary GradoA Mesa man’s truck was stolen at gunpoint Monday by a man posing as a truck buyer. |