Humble Observer - News
Constables bust undocumented couple for cocaine during DWI stop
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| MALDONADO |
By OBSERVER STAFF REPORTS
Precinct 4 Constable’s deputies increasing patrols to combat drunk driving in the Humble area arrested an undocumented couple for possession of a large amount of cocaine in the 7700 block of Humble Westfield Road on the afternoon of Jan. 1.
The man and woman were initially stopped for suspicion of driving while intoxicated when, shortly after 4 p.m., Deputy G. Rodriguez, who was on patrol on FM 1960 near Foxwood Forest and Kenswick, spotted a black 2005 Nissan Altima driving erratically.
“Deputy Rodriguez also saw that several beer cans were rolling around the top of the truck lid,” said Precinct 4 Lt. F. David Escobar. “Some beer cans were also stuck on the car’s tail fin while pouring out onto the rear of the car.”
After Rodriguez had stopped the vehicle she spoke to the occupants of the vehicle. The driver, 29-year-old Omar Maldonado, of Mexico, told the deputy he was an undocumented alien and was in the U.S. illegally. Maldonado also claimed not to own the car he was driving.
His front passenger was identified as Maldonado’s wife, 24-year-old Graciela Ibarra, also from Mexico. She also admitted to being an undocumented immigrant.
“During the vehicle stop and while the deputy was conducting her DWI investigation, she noticed that Ibarra, who was in the car, began attempting to conceal what appeared to be a large plastic bag under her clothing, which was found to contain 31 grams of cocaine,” said Escobar.
Precinct 4 K-9 Deputy J. Glaze and his drug canine were also summoned to the scene and alerted to a small amount of marijuana on the driver’s side door.
During the arrest, Maldonado was also found to be in possession of a smaller amount of cocaine. Both Maldonado and Ibarra were charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and were booked into the Harris County Jail without bond.
The man and woman were initially stopped for suspicion of driving while intoxicated when, shortly after 4 p.m., Deputy G. Rodriguez, who was on patrol on FM 1960 near Foxwood Forest and Kenswick, spotted a black 2005 Nissan Altima driving erratically.
“Deputy Rodriguez also saw that several beer cans were rolling around the top of the truck lid,” said Precinct 4 Lt. F. David Escobar. “Some beer cans were also stuck on the car’s tail fin while pouring out onto the rear of the car.”
After Rodriguez had stopped the vehicle she spoke to the occupants of the vehicle. The driver, 29-year-old Omar Maldonado, of Mexico, told the deputy he was an undocumented alien and was in the U.S. illegally. Maldonado also claimed not to own the car he was driving.
His front passenger was identified as Maldonado’s wife, 24-year-old Graciela Ibarra, also from Mexico. She also admitted to being an undocumented immigrant.
“During the vehicle stop and while the deputy was conducting her DWI investigation, she noticed that Ibarra, who was in the car, began attempting to conceal what appeared to be a large plastic bag under her clothing, which was found to contain 31 grams of cocaine,” said Escobar.
Precinct 4 K-9 Deputy J. Glaze and his drug canine were also summoned to the scene and alerted to a small amount of marijuana on the driver’s side door.
During the arrest, Maldonado was also found to be in possession of a smaller amount of cocaine. Both Maldonado and Ibarra were charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and were booked into the Harris County Jail without bond.
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