STRIKE TEAM DEPUTIES SEIZE BUNDLES OF COCAINE DISCOVERED IN AN XBOX-360

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

“We Serve With Pride”

On 05-03-12 at approximately 6:20 PM , El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Strike Team/Deputies were traveling eastbound at the 3200 block of Gateway East in El Paso County, Texas when they saw a light blue older model Mercedes Benz traveling directly in front of them commit a traffic violation by failing to signal 100 feet before making a right turn. Sheriff’s Deputies initiated a traffic stop on the said vehicle at the 300 block of S. Cebada Rd. The Deputies made contact with the driver of the vehicle and advised him the reason for the traffic stop. While talking to the driver, Deputies saw he was extremely nervous as he kept looking at a bag that was located on the passenger`s seat of the vehicle. Deputies requested and obtained consent to a search of his vehicle. While searching the vehicle, Deputies located a (1) brick like bundle wrapped in brown tape inside the bag. A further review of the bundle revealed a white powdery substance believed to cocaine. Also inside the bag, Deputies located an XBOX-360 game system. The assistance of a Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit was requested to the scene. Shortly after, the Deputy and his K-9 partner/Ciro arrived at which time K-9 Ciro was deployed to conduct a search of the vehicle. K-9 Ciro alerted with positive results to the XBOX-360. A detailed inspection of the XBOX-360 revealed (2) additional brick like bundles of a white powdery substance, believed to be cocaine, concealed inside and wrapped in heavy duty foil paper. The white powdery substance was field tested on scene which yielded positive results for the properties of cocaine. The (3) bundles weighed 1.8 kilo grams. The male subject was identified as 42 year old Carlos Valenzuela. Subject/Valenzuela was charged with MAN DEL CS PG 1 >=400 G (cocaine).

ARRESTED

CARLOS VALENZUELA (42)

BOND: $25,000

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EPCSO: