Stephens County deputy makes drug arrest after traffic stop
By Tony Pilkington and Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
A routine traffic stop in east Breckenridge on Thursday night led to the arrest of a 17-year-old man from Graham on several felony charges.
According to information from Stephens County Sheriff Kevin Roach, Alexander Lara of Graham, 17, was arrested and booked into the Stephens County jail on four charges – three for illegal drugs and one for a stolen weapon.
Alexander Lara
At about 8:19 p.m. Thursday, a Stephens County Deputy stopped Lara for having a headlight out. The traffic stop transitioned into a drug investigation when the deputy identified indicators that illegal substances were possibly being transported in the vehicle, Roach said in a media release.
Officers with the Breckenridge Police Department assisted in the investigation, during which 39.64 ounces of marijuana, 2.2 grams of cocaine, 29.8 grams of methamphetamine, a stolen handgun, and an assault rifle were seized, according to the report.
Lara was arrested on the following charges:
- Possession of marijuana greater than 4 ounces but less than 5 pounds
- Manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, greater than 4 grams but less than 200 grams (for the methamphetamine)
- Possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, greater than 1 gram but less than 4 4rams (for the cocaine)
- Theft of a firearm
Roach said those investigating the case checked the Texas Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center and the handgun was reported as being stolen in Graham in January.
“Any item, whether it be a handgun, a car, a boat, a motor, can be entered in by any police agency as a stolen or wanted item. And when law enforcement (comes in contact with) that item and runs it by serial number, it will notify you if it’s a possible match,” Roach said. “And, of course, you can get in contact with that agency and confirm it’s the same one, just like you do with wanted people or anything else. So, officers on the scene ran it, it popped up possible stolen and they were able to confirm it was stolen out of Young County, out of Graham.”
Justice of the Peace Steve Spoon set Lara’s bond at $50,000 for the manufacturing/delivery of the meth, $20,000 for possession of the cocaine, and $10,000 each for the possession of marijuana and the theft of a firearm.
As of Friday afternoon, Lara was still in custody in the Stephens County Jail.
