Traffic Stop Yields Drug Arrests
Suspected Gang Members Among Four In Custody
Last updated Tuesday, November 22, 2005 12:07 AM CST in News
By Don Dailey
The Morning News
ROGERS -- A traffic stop Friday by Rogers police resulted in the arrest of four men, two them suspected gang members, and the seizure of drugs and a stolen handgun.
The four were taken into custody on felony drug charges in connection with cocaine and marijuana found in the car and in one of the men's pockets, according to police spokesman Cpl. Kelley Cradduck.
Arrested:
• Salvador Garcia, 26, 303 E. Sandlewood Drive.
• Odolfo Parga, 28, 1035 Hendrix St.
• Alberto Barragan-Ochoa, 24, 601 W. Easy St.
• Fermin Benhumea, 21, no address available.
Patrolman Joe Warren's suspicions were aroused when he stopped a Cadillac El Dorado for driving erratically in the 2100 block of South Eighth Street at 10:25 p.m. and noticed the driver, Garcia, had a gang-symbol tattoo, according to a probable-cause affidavit.
The affidavit said Garcia is a suspected gang member and was known to associate with suspects in a recent rash of armed robberies in Rogers.
Cradduck said the items found during the arrests indicate an increased level of gang activity.
"They had guns and drugs with them. These are not just some little graffiti artists," Cradduck said.
Other police officers arrived and the four men were taken out of the car and searched. A small-caliber, semiautomatic handgun was found on Barragan-Ochoa, police said. Four packets of cocaine were found in one of Benhumea's pockets and more than $3,600 in cash was found in another of his pockets, Cradduck said.
Marijuana and more cocaine were found in the back of the car. About 10 total grams of cocaine were found, Cradduck said.
A check of the gun showed it was reported stolen from a Bentonville home.
All four face felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Parga also faces a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was in the Benton County Jail on Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.
Barragan-Ochoa also faces felony charges of theft by receiving and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was in the Benton County Jail on Monday in lieu of $50,000 bond.
Benhumea also faces a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was in the Benton County Jail on Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.
Benhumea is also suspected of being in the country illegally and was being held for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Garcia was in the Benton County Jail on Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.
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