A routine traffic stop yielded an array of drugs that appeared to be packaged for sale in addition to two firearms, one with the serial numbers removed.
Emmanuel Andrade, 23, was arrested Jan. 17 and charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and suspended registration.
A report of the arrest by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Travis Walker stated he was monitoring traffic on Highway 49 when a red Ford F-150 was discovered to have a suspended registration. Walker performed a traffic stop on the pickup, and the driver was identified as Andrade. The deputy noted that Andrade was a Hispanic male who did not speak English, but he managed to communicate with the driver using the Spanish he knew.
Andrade was able to tell him that he did not have a license and there was a gun in the vehicle. When asked about drugs, the driver said there was some marijuana.
After placing Andrade in his patrol car, Walker said he conducted a probable cause search of the truck. Inside he found the marijuana, some packed in small bags and more in a jar. The sergeant also found a bag of fentanyl, a bottle of MDMA pills and two firearms.
In addition to the drugs and firearms, Walker found pipes used for smoking drugs and a scale.
“Based on my knowledge, training and experience, these drugs were not intended for personal use,” he said.
Andrade was subsequently arrested. Before he was transported, Walker said he contacted JCSO Deputy Christopher Dominguez, who is bilingual, to read Andrade his Miranda rights and ask about the drugs.
