Traffic stop leads to arrest of passenger on drug charge
Sheriff’s files
STEVEN MROSS
The Sentinel-Record staff
A routine traffic stop lead to the arrest of a passenger in the vehicle on a misdemeanor drug charge Thursday afternoon.
Uriel Rodriquez, 21, who lists an address of 1507 Spring St., was taken into custody around 1:45 p.m. and charged with possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, punishable by up to one year in jail. He was later released on $1,000 bond and is set to appear Feb. 25 in Garland County District Court.
According to reports, Garland County sheriff’s Deputy Greg Kellar made a traffic stop on a black 2002 Cadillac Escalade in the parking lot of West Gate Plaza at 2228 Albert Pike after noticing the tags were expired and returned to a different vehicle.
He made contact with the occupants of the vehicle and noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from the interior. When he asked if anyone had any drugs in their possession, the front seat passenger, identified as Rodriquez, told him he had put some in the passenger side door panel.
Kellar walked around and retrieved the drugs, approximately 2 grams, which were in a green pill bottle in the door.
Rodriquez was taken into custody without incident. The report did not indicate if the driver was issued any citations.
