BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested on September 25 after a canine alerted police to drugs in his vehicle and police discovered cocaine.
Captain Harrison Fleetwood of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department initiated the stop around 8:42 p.m. after observing 33-year-old Luis N. Garcia’s black Toyota fail to signal when turning at the intersection of 14th and L Streets. The vehicle pulled into a nearby parking lot, where officers approached Garcia, who presented an Indiana Identification Card instead of a driver’s license.
During the interaction, Garcia explained that he had recently purchased the vehicle and had not yet updated the registration. He denied having any weapons in the car and consented to a search.
Officer Kenton Carter arrived with his canine partner, Roko, who indicated the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A subsequent search uncovered a clear zip-lock bag containing a white powdery residue in the driver’s side floorboard that tested positive for cocaine.
Further investigation revealed a tampered panel near the steering wheel, behind which officers found a black cosmetic bag containing additional bags of cocaine. Additionally, an open Budweiser beer bottle was discovered in the back passenger floorboard, which Garcia claimed was the source of moisture on his hands.
Garcia was detained, and while he initially denied knowledge of the narcotics, officers noted the circumstances surrounding the evidence suggested he was attempting to destroy it.
Garcia was charged with possession of a narcotic drug, operating without ever obtaining a license and obstruction of justice. He was taken into custody and transported to the Lawrence County Jail without incident. He was also issued a written warning for failing to signal during the traffic stop.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
