OPD seizes cocaine, meth in drug busts

Olney Police arrested three men in two separate traffic stops on felony drug charges involving cocaine, methamphetamine and a THC vape pen, Chief Dan Birbeck said.

Officers stopped two men in a white Ford van in the 400 block of West Main Street on May 9 at 7:48 p.m., Chief Birbeck said.

The driver, identified as Francisco Ortega, 40, admitted to possessing marijuana, Chief Birbeck said.

After detecting the smell of marijuana emanating from the van, police searched the vehicle and found a small amount of marijuana in the cupholder and a THC vape pen inside a compartment under the radio, he said. Possession of a THC vape pen is a felony, he said.

In a gray backpack found behind the front seat, police discovered a small plastic baggie with a white powdery substance that a field test indicated was cocaine, he said.

The passenger, Mark Guerro, 36, claimed ownership of the backpack.

Both men were arrested for possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1.

“Cocaine out here in this area is a little unusual,” Chief Birbeck said. “It’s just not the drug of choice out here. Here, it’s more methamphetamine and heroin.”

On April 28, Olney Police stopped a Chevrolet Suburban for an equipment violation at about 3:20 a.m. in the 400 block of West Main Street, Chief Birbeck said.

The driver, Monte Williams, 44, of Lubbock had an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, he said.

After interviewing Mr. Williams, the officer asked him to step out of the vehicle and conducted a probable cause search, he said.

The officer observed a crystalline substance resembling methamphetamine on the center console. Inside the console, he found a paper towel with a glass pipe wrapped in a paper towel, he said.

The officer also found a black digital scale with white residue resembling methamphetamine, open alcoholic beverage containers and a metal safe containing baggies containing suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, Chief Birbeck said.

The officer arrested Mr. Williams for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance -- 12 grams of methamphetamines, he said.