Drug Busts in East Montgomery County

EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY, October 6, 2010 - The Montgomery County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office team of Deputy Juan Chapa and K-9 Porter has been responsible for taking nearly 400 pounds of marijuana off the streets in less than one week.

The latest bust occurred around 11 p.m. Tuesday night on US 59 near Creekwood Drive. Deputy Chapa stopped a speeding 2000 Ford Crown Victoria with out of state license plates, and while asking the driver for her license and insurance, he noticed a strong odor of marijuana from inside the vehicle. He spoke with both occupants separately and their stories conflicted.

Deputy Chapa, who is trained in criminal interdiction on freeways, noted multiple other indicators of drugs inside the vehicle. He asked and received consent to search it and initially found a small amount of marijuana, but then saw evidence of possible larger scale transport of marijuana. Further investigation and the deployment of K-9 Porter led to the discovery of approximately 40 pounds of marijuana concealed in a spare tire and in other areas in the rear of the vehicle.

Christina Joyce Brocato, 31, of Pearl Mississippi and 26-year-old Mexican national Antolino Barrera Resendiz are charged with third-degree felony possession of marijuana.

Around 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, Deputy Chapa and K-9 Porter responded to assist a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper on US 59 North near Washington Ave. in Cleveland where Porter’s positive odor response led to the discovery of 355 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle’s trunk. The driver and passenger were arrested. DPS has not authorized the Constable’s office to release any additional information regarding that case at this time.

Pct. 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden said he was proud of the excellent job Deputy Chapa and K-9 Porter are doing.

“The weekend bust showed the good instincts of the DPS trooper who made the stop and it was a prime example of what can be accomplished when agencies work together,” Constable Hayden said. “Even if these two large quantities of marijuana weren’t bound for our streets, they were headed for a neighborhood somewhere, and being able to prevent that is the kind of thing that makes our jobs worthwhile.”

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