Members of the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team took an Alliance man into custody on Friday afternoon on two active arrest warrants.
Investigators learned Richard Garcia, 34, of Alliance, was located in a residence in the 400 block of Missouri Avenue in Alliance. They served a search warrant and took Garcia into custody without incident and lodged him at the Box Butte County Jail.
The first warrant was issued for failing to appear in court on several felony charges including possession of methamphetamine 10-27 grams, a class 1D felony, possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, a class 3 felony, carry a concealed weapon—second offense, a class 4 felony, and habitual criminal.
According to court records, the charges stem from an incident on Nov. 3. A trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol was stationary on Highway 2 when they observed a 2003 Lincoln LS without license plates traveling northbound. The trooper initiated a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Richard Garcia.
When the trooper asked for documentation regarding the vehicle, according to the Affidavit for Custody, Garcia responded that he could not provide it. Garcia was asked to step out of the vehicle and the trooper noticed Garcia grabbing and brushing his right pocket area near the beltline.
According to the Affidavit, the trooper initiated a weapons frisk based of knowledge of prior interactions Garcia had with law enforcement. During the frisk, the trooper felt multiple hard objects in Garcia’s sweatshirt pocket, including a tube with a spherical end, which he recognized as a methamphetamine pipe. He asked Garcia to provide the pipe, and Garcia provided a butane torch and stated there were no other items in the pocket, according to the Affidavit.
The trooper ordered Garcia to stand next to his patrol unit and removed the contents of Garcia’s pocket. He located the pipe and observed a white residue and burn marks on it. He also removed a clear baggie with a 2.2 grams of a white crystalline substance determined to be methamphetamine.
As the trooper removed items from Garcia’s pocket, he observed a knife that was tucked into Garcia’s pants pocket. He removed the knife, which had a blade longer than 3.5 inches.
The trooper then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and a female passenger.
During the search, the trooper located a loaded hypodermic needle, which contained a clear liquid, in the driver’s door pocket, as well as other drug paraphernalia.
Garcia was advised of his Miranda Rights, and he agreed to speak with the trooper, according to the Affidavit. Garcia admitted to the trooper that he smoked methamphetamine that morning, but could not recall the time. He said that after going to Hemingford, he was going to Scottsbluff to purchase more controlled substances.
The vehicle was towed from the scene and Garcia was transported to the Alliance Police Department where he was questioned by investigators. The investigators noticed a lump in Garcia’s groin and asked if he had other items on him. According to the Affidavit, Garcia admitted he had more and the investigators removed a black cloth bag that was tied closed from Garcia. He told the investigators he believed there was approximately ¾ ounce of methamphetamine in the bag.
The bag was opened and the trooper viewed eight separate separate baggies with a white crystalline substance recognized as methamphetamine. The baggies were weighed together in packaging and the total weight was 20.8 grams.
Garcia was booked on those charges. The other warrant for Garcia’s arrest was for failing to appear for sentencing in another case.