Traffic stop leads to meth arrest

During a routine traffic stop earlier this week, Sidney police arrested two Nebraska men for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

At around 11:30 p.m. on May 26 a Sidney officer stopped Emmanuel Cabello, 29 of Alliance and Christopher Garcia Sr., 29 of Gering on link 17J for a speeding violation. After dealing with the violation, the officer felt that something was off and asked for consent to search the vehicle. Cabello, the driver of the vehicle reportedly agreed to the search.

Inside the vehicle, the officer allegedly found evidence of drug use as well as possible distribution, including marijuana and methamphetamine pipes containing drug residue in addition to scales that might be used to measure out amounts of controlled substances.

After their arrests, both suspects reportedly told police that Garcia had drugs hidden on his person. Law enforcement then located a baggie containing 19 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the man’s shoe, according to a press release from Sidney Chief of Police BJ Wilkinson. Because both men allegedly admitted to moving the substance back and forth between themselves, they were both charged in the crime.

The amount of methamphetamine found in Garcia’s shoe is more than the one gram police typically see for personal use, Wilkinson said.

“It’s pretty substantial,” he added.

The case is still under investigation by the Sidney police, the Cheyenne County attorney’s office and the state crime lab. Additional charges are possible.