A morning vehicle pursuit in East-Central El Paso ended with the arrest of a driver allegedly found in possession of marijuana from New Mexico and suspected THC wax, El Paso County constable officials said.
The pursuit occurred about 6:30 a.m. on Monday, May 4, after a constable sergeant with the office of Precinct 3 Constable Hector Bernal saw a gold 2002 Chevrolet Suburban — which had its hazard lights flashing — run a red light at the intersection of Sioux Drive and Edgemere Boulevard, east of Bassett Place, a constable office news release stated.
The driver of the Suburban, later identified as Raul Arellano, 63, is accused of refusing to stop when the constable patrol vehicle attempted to pull him over with its emergency overhead lights and sirens activated, the constable office stated.
Arellano allegedly committed multiple traffic violations throughout East-Central El Paso until the Suburban eventually became trapped in heavy traffic nearly three miles away at Rutherglen Street and Montana Avenue, the constable officials said.
After Arellano was taken into custody, a search of his vehicle found marijuana in packaging from Sunland Park, New Mexico, and a wax-like substance suspected of being THC, the constable’s office stated.
Marijuana can be legally sold at dispensaries in New Mexico, but is generally illegal in Texas.
Arellano was arrested on a felony charge of evading arrest with a vehicle. Drug possession charges are pending, officials said. Arellano was booked into the El Paso County jail in Downtown with a bond set at $20,000.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso constables arrest driver in East-Central pursuit
Reporting by Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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