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BPD seize large amount of drugs from Baytown home
  
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By JOSH HARDWICK
A Baytown couple is facing serious charges after officers with the city’s Police Special Operations Unit uncovered a large stash of drugs and over $30,000 in cash at their home Wednesday.
Detectives arrested 46-year-old Juan Banda and his girlfriend, 30-year-old Sandra Mendoza Dec. 3 from their home in the 500 block of Stimson, acting on a tip from neighbors that the couple was selling narcotics out of the house.
Upon obtaining a warrant to search the property police seized 26 pounds of marijuana from the home’s garage and 2.3 kilograms of crack cocaine from a master bedroom.
Much of the $30,000 in cash was found on Banda’s person at the time of the arrest and was also seized as suspected profits from the couple’s drug sales, said Lt. Eric Freed.
“Judging by the level of narcotics present, this was a well-established operation and not just your average street dealers,” he said. “These people were distributing a very large amount of drugs out of their residence.”
The suspects face charges of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
Possession of cocaine is a first degree felony punishable by anywhere from five years to life imprisonment and a $10,000 fine, while possession of marijuana – a third degree felony – can result in two to 10 years and a $5,000-$10,000 fine.
Baytown Police made use of their special, “Hot Spot” unit to make Wednesday’s arrest, said Freed. The Hot Spot unit is a group of about 10 BPD officers that are assigned to compile criminal data from a particular area over a long period of time.
Hot Spot offers the department the advantage of supplementing their special operations unit with more precise information about crime statistics and potential suspects without pulling patrols off the streets.
“This collaborative effort from our Special Operations and Hot Spot units really makes an impact in reducing crime in Baytown,” said Police Chief Keith Dougherty. “I encourage our citizens to continue to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and we will respond to their concerns.”
Meanwhile, Freed said the department will now focus its attention on rooting out whoever supplied the suspects with the narcotics.
“If any leads are established we will definitely follow up on them,” he said.
Detectives arrested 46-year-old Juan Banda and his girlfriend, 30-year-old Sandra Mendoza Dec. 3 from their home in the 500 block of Stimson, acting on a tip from neighbors that the couple was selling narcotics out of the house.
Upon obtaining a warrant to search the property police seized 26 pounds of marijuana from the home’s garage and 2.3 kilograms of crack cocaine from a master bedroom.
Much of the $30,000 in cash was found on Banda’s person at the time of the arrest and was also seized as suspected profits from the couple’s drug sales, said Lt. Eric Freed.
“Judging by the level of narcotics present, this was a well-established operation and not just your average street dealers,” he said. “These people were distributing a very large amount of drugs out of their residence.”
The suspects face charges of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
Possession of cocaine is a first degree felony punishable by anywhere from five years to life imprisonment and a $10,000 fine, while possession of marijuana – a third degree felony – can result in two to 10 years and a $5,000-$10,000 fine.
Baytown Police made use of their special, “Hot Spot” unit to make Wednesday’s arrest, said Freed. The Hot Spot unit is a group of about 10 BPD officers that are assigned to compile criminal data from a particular area over a long period of time.
Hot Spot offers the department the advantage of supplementing their special operations unit with more precise information about crime statistics and potential suspects without pulling patrols off the streets.
“This collaborative effort from our Special Operations and Hot Spot units really makes an impact in reducing crime in Baytown,” said Police Chief Keith Dougherty. “I encourage our citizens to continue to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and we will respond to their concerns.”
Meanwhile, Freed said the department will now focus its attention on rooting out whoever supplied the suspects with the narcotics.
“If any leads are established we will definitely follow up on them,” he said.
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