El Paso County's efforts to curb drug trafficking yielded results last week, when a routine traffic stop escalated into a sizable narcotics seizure. According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, deputies pulled over a vehicle near 5510 S. Highway 85/87 and discovered drugs, paraphernalia, and a large sum of cash after observing suspicious materials inside the car.
The incident occurred on Sunday, October 26, just past 10:30 PM, where deputies intended to simply make a traffic stop, but were quickly tipped off by the sight of a foil with burnt residue. They went on to detain both the driver and passenger and to subsequently discover a cache of illegal substances. Juan Gonzales-Gomez, 26, and Keri Shay, 24, were identified as the vehicle's occupants and faced immediate arrest following the search.
The deputies' search uncovered several types of narcotics, including over 200 fentanyl pills, alongside Xanax, crack cocaine, PCP, methamphetamine, and heroin. Tools of the trade, scales, empty baggies, a ledger, over $5,800 in cash, and a hidden firearm were also amongst the retrieved items. The presence of both drugs and a firearm led to the enhanced charges the pair is facing.
At the El Paso County Jail, Gonzales-Gomez and Shay found themselves charged with a myriad of offenses relating to the distribution and possession of controlled substances. Each is being held on a $50,000 bond. El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal underscored the arrest with a strong message, one that reflected the gravity of the moment: "The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office remains steadfast in our commitment to combat the distribution of dangerous narcotics and to bring those responsible to justice," he told the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
