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Finding a friend to share the driving across country can be both an economical and delightful experience, it can also land one in jail depending on just what that friend is packing.
So learned David Ragaza a 31 year old San Francisco man.
According to the Elko County Sheriff’s office Ragaza was stopped at around 9:30 Sunday evening near Wells.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as David Ragaza 31 years old of San Francisco, California was acting nervous noted Deputy M. Friez and Ragaza was asked if there were any narcotics in the vehicle.
According to reports Ragaza volunteered there was marijuana in the rear of the vehicle. And also volunteered told that it belonged to the passenger identified as Nathan Wecker 30 years old from Dartmouth, MA. .
Deputy Friez asked Ragaza how much marijuana was in the rear of the vehicle, Ragaza replied “pounds”. The driver gave consent to search the vehicle. Deputy Friez called for the Elko County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Neko. K-9 Neko alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics.
Deputy Friez located several bags in the trunk of the vehicle that contained several plastic bags with marijuana. Deputy Friez weighed the marijuana with a total of almost 31 pounds.
The deputy did not however buy Ragaza’s story that he had nothing to do with the pot. Ragaza was arrested for Unlawful Possession/Sale of controlled substance and speeding, bail set at $5,172.00. The passenger Nathan Wecker was arrested for Unlawful Possession/Sale of controlled substance, bail set at $5,000.00.
Just one day later an unidentified California woman fared much better when the van she was traveling in was also found to be transporting pot.
According to Sheriff’s reports Elko Deputy Mathes stopped a vehicle 15 miles east of Wells also for speeding.
The driver was identified as Manuel Pimental 28 years old from San Francisco California. The driver advised the deputy that the driver’s window was broken and would not roll down. Deputy Mathes thought it odd that the window on a rental vehicle would be broken. Deputy Mathes used his K-9 on the vehicle to determine of any controlled substances were located within the vehicle. The K-9 alerted for the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle and Deputy Mathes obtained consent to search from Pimental.
Deputy Mathes discovered the driver’s side door panel was loose. Closer inspection revealed plastic bags of Marijuana inside the driver’s door. Deputy Mathes sealed the vehicle and obtained a search warrant to search the vehicle. Deputy Mathes located more plastic bags of marijuana in each of the four doors of the vehicle.
There were a total of 15 bags of marijuana recovered from the car doors. The total weight of the marijuana seized is approximately 20 pounds. Each bag of marijuana was double bagged with mustard and coffee grounds packed between the inner and outer bag. Pimental was arrested for possession with intent to sell.
A female passenger was a “ride share” that the driver had met on Craig’s List. She was not involved in the criminal activity and was released.
Pimental was booked into the Elko County Jail for Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana, bail set at $5000.00
