Pictured are the items confiscated during the traffic stop.

On 12-11-11, at approximately 8:30 p.m., a PCSO deputy on patrol heading eastbound on U.S. 60 conducted a routine vehicle registration check on a light blue, 2000 Nissan Altima.

After the check came back negative for highway use, the deputy initiated a traffic stop, to which the driver complied and pulled to a complete stop along shoulder at mile post 215.

The deputy made contact with four occupants inside the vehicle and began asking the driver questions regarding the registration.

The driver identified himself as Alejandro Torrez, 30, of Avondale and could not provide a valid drivers license because it was suspended. He also told the deputy he purchased the car a week ago and had not yet registered it in his name.

Seated in the front passenger seat was a white female identified as Kellsi Bryan, 20, of Winkelman. Behind the driver's seat was seated a Hispanic female subject who was identified verbally as Marlene Contreras, 34, of Pima, and behind the passenger seat, a Hispanic male subject who verbally identified himself to me as Jorge Espinosa, 34, of Mexico.

When the deputy asked if there were any weapons or narcotics in the vehicle, Bryan responded saying she had a loaded handgun in her purse. Bryan was asked to exit the vehicle and searched, at which point a .22 caliber Phoenix Arms handgun was found. Bryan told the deputy the gun belonged to Torrez’s brother, who’d left the gun at her home and she was returning it. Because she is under 21, Bryan was placed under arrests for being a prohibited possessor.

Torrez was placed under arrested for operating a vehicle on a suspended license. After a second PCSO unit responded to assist, all subjects were removed and the vehicle was searched.

A thorough search turned up a 9MM handgun located in the back seat pocket directly in front from where Espinosa was seated. After further questioning, deputies determined Espinosa was in the country illegally and was turned over to Immigrations Customs Enforcement for processing.

While seated in the back of the PCSO patrol vehicle, Bryan informed the deputy she had a digital scale with several small bags of crystal methamphetamine inside her purse. The deputy searched Bryan’s purse and discovered the items inside a black pouch. Bryan also admitted to having concealed (2) pipes used for smoking methamphetamine on her person. She was allowed to remove the items which were taken into evidence.

Alejandro Torrez		Kellsi Bryan		Marlene Contreras

A probable cause search and inventory of the vehicle’s trunk revealed several stolen ID’s, including two U.S. military passports, (5) stolen credit cards, several pieces of U.S. mail and other personal items belonging to various people not in the vehicle. At least two items located were traced back to a recent burglary out of Phoenix.

Contreras was visibly upset during the search and informed deputies she was in possession of methamphetamine. The deputies allowed her to remove the items concealed in her pants which turned up to be 1 ounce of crystal methamphetamine. She informed deputies Torrez ordered her to conceal the drugs as they were being pulled over because he was going to jail and gave the .22 handgun he pulled from his waistband to Bryan because he wasn’t supposed to have it; Torrez is a prohibited possessor.

Charges are as follows:

Alejandro Torrez:
-Possession of Dangerous Drugs
-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
-Misconduct involving weapons
-Possession of Stolen Property
-Unlawful Possession of Access Devices
-Driving on a Suspended License

Kellsi Bryan:
-Possession of Dangerous Drugs
-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
-Misconduct involving weapons

Marlene Contreras:
-Possession of Dangerous Drugs
-Previous warrant – Failure to Appear

Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “At any point these criminals could have chosen to become violent, putting my deputy’s lives in danger. I’m very please with the sound tactics they demonstrated during this traffic stop that turned up a significant criminal enterprise. These drugs and weapons are off the street and we can now work to get the stolen ID’s back to the rightful owners.”