Police arrested a felon suspected of driving a stolen vehicle, and learned he was in possession of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm on Wednesday afternoon.
Antonio “Tony” Garcia, 39, of the 2000 block of Livesay in Anthony, N.M., is charged with one fourth-degree felony count each of transferring a stolen motor vehicle, one fourth-degree felony count of transportation or possession of a firearm by a felon, and one second-degree felony count of trafficking methamphetamine.
At about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, a Las Cruces Police officer patrolling on University Avenue located a black Ford pickup that was reported stolen out of El Paso, Texas. The officer pulled traffic on the pickup and the driver came to a stop in a parking lot near Pinon Hall on the campus of New Mexico State University.
Officers detained Garcia who was the driver and sole occupant of the pickup.
Investigators learned that, several weeks ago, the pickup’s owner loaned the vehicle to Garcia who was supposed to return it within a couple of days. Garcia did not return the vehicle so it was reported stolen in El Paso.
The pickup’s owner indicated to police that Garcia may be in possession of a firearm. Officers searched the pickup and located a nylon zippered bag in the engine compartment. Inside the bag officers found 14.7 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale and a loaded .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun.
In March 2007 Garcia was convicted in Texas on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was released from prison in July 2016.
Garcia was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he’s being held without bond.
Information from Las Cruces Police