SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY LEADS “STRIKE TEAM” DEPUTIES TO SEVERAL KEY ARRESTS

NEWS RELEASE

El Paso County Sheriff’s Office

3850 Justice Dr., El Paso, Texas 79938

Contact: Angelica Becerra / Public Information Officer

Office: (915) 538-2119

Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5237)

EMAIL: abecerra@epcounty.com

Website: EPCSO.ORG

El Paso, TX- On Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at approximately 9:00 pm Strike Team Deputies made several key arrests with the assistance of Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons & Tactic Members and a Border Patrol K-9 unit after receiving tips on suspicious activity coming from a residence at the 12800 block of Tierra Salas in El Paso County Texas.

Deputies set up surveillance for approximately two weeks of the said residence and observed activity consistent with that of illegal drug dealing and counter-surveillance by the subjects. Several traffic stops, in connection with the operation, were made resulting in various arrests of subjects for possession of marijuana.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence after a traffic stop lead to the arrest of male subject identified as Juan Carlos Silva Jr. who was in possession of 16 pounds of marijuana and $2,198.00 in U.S. currency, seized by Strike Team Deputies. Additional traffic stops also lead to the arrests of subjects Jacob Chavez and Charlie Martinez.

The search warrant was executed by SWAT and Strike Team members that lead to further arrests of subjects inside the residence: Shem Prieto, Michael Carlos and Daniel Gutierrez, suspected of renting rooms and dealing from within the residence. Also, seized was multiple drug paraphernalia, a weapon and marijuana plant.


JUAN CARLOS SILVA JR. (22)CHARGE: POM 0/5 LBS-U/50 LBS BOND: $10,000.00	JACOB CHAVEZ (18)CHARGE: POM U/ 2 OZ BOND: $300.00	CHARLIE MARTINEZ (22)CHARGE(S): POM U/ 2 OZ BOND: $300.00 POSSESSION OF C/S PG 1 O/1 G- U/4 G BOND: $2,500.00 POM O/4 OZ-U/5 LBS BOND: $10,000.00

SHEM GARCIA PRIETO (22) CHARGE: POM O/4 OZ-U/5 LBS BOND: $2,500.00	MICHAEL CARLOS (23) CHARGE: POM O/4 OZ-U/5LBS BOND: $2,500.00	DANIEL GUTIRRREZ (22) CHARGE: POM O/4 OZ-U/5 LBS BOND: $20,000.00