On August 28, at approximately 1700 hours, a California Highway Patrol Officer conducted an enforcement stop on a 2013 Jeep Patriot for a speed violation. The stop occurred on westbound SR-152 at Dinosaur Point. During the course of the contact the officer observed several indicators that led him to believe the driver was engaged in criminal activity. CHP K9 Officer “Beny” was called in to conduct a sniff of the vehicle. Beny alerted to the odor of narcotics on the vehicle.
When asked for consent to search the vehicle the driver gave verbal and written consent. A subsequent search revealed approximately 30 pounds of crystal methamphetamine inside of a sophisticated roof compartment. The driver was taken into custody and later booked into the Merced County Sheriff’s Office Main Jail for possession of methamphetamine for sale, and transportation of methamphetamine.
