On Wednesday, June 17, 2015, a driver license violation prompted the stop of a Pontiac sedan in Sweetwater that led to seizure of suspected marijuana and the arrest of a Sweetwater man.

A Nolan County deputy stopped a maroon Pontiac Grand Am for a driver license violation in the 100 block of Texas Avenue, Sweetwater. Contact was made with the driver, Arnulfo Delgado, of Sweetwater who was accompanied by a passenger, also of Sweetwater. Delgado and his passenger were requested to exit the vehicle where a roadside investigation was conducted.

Wile speaking with Delgado, the deputy noticed indications of criminal activity, whereupon she requested consent to search the vehicle but was denied. The Sweetwater Police Department was then contacted, and a K9 unit was requested. Sergeant Rob Hohman arrived on scene and deployed a K9, where an open-air sniff operation was conducted. The K9 alerted on the passenger side of the vehicle, as it made its way to the center console, justifying a “probable cause” search.

Delgado was later found to have discarded a plastic baggie containing suspected marijuana in plain sight. He was detained and a search of the vehicle was conducted which lead to the discovery of drug paraphernalia and remnants of marijuana.

Delgado was placed under arrest and transported to the Nolan County jail where he was charged with the misdemeanor offense of possession of marijuana and Instantered for no driver’s license (when unlicensed). The case will be filed with the Nolan County Attorney’s Office for prosecution.