A local man accused of having methamphetamine in his possession
for sale was arrested early Tuesday morning by Morgan Hill police
officers.
Morgan Hill – A local man accused of having methamphetamine in his possession for sale was arrested early Tuesday morning by Morgan Hill police officers.
Morgan Hill police officer Brandon Richards, who recently joined the department, was training with Morgan Hill police Cpl. Bill Norman when they spotted a vehicle driving northbound in the southbound lanes of Monterey Road, according to Morgan Hill police Cmdr. Joe Sampson.
Richards stopped Abimale Vargas, 35, of Morgan Hill, suspecting that he was driving under the influence of alcohol. Vargas was stopped near the intersection of Monterey Road and Spring Avenue at approximately 1:20am.
Sampson said Vargas’ symptoms indicated he was under the influence of a controlled substance. Richards searched Vargas, in preparation for arresting him, and found several baggies containing methamphetamine and a meth pipe.
When Vargas’ vehicle was searched, Sampson said, Richards and Norman found some pills that Vargas told the officers he used as a “cutting agent.” Under the driver’s side floormat, the officers found a .357 magnum revolver.
“In his possession were 5.5 grams of meth, he had a cell phone ringing during the entire investigation; based on the baggies, the phone ringing, the cash, he had $106 in cash on him, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance for sales,” Sampson said.
He was also arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia and possession of a concealed firearm.
Vargas was booked into Santa Clara County Jail without incident.
Richards was formerly employed by the Gilroy Police Department.
