Drugs with Street Value of $425,000 Seized During Arrest
September 14, 2012
On 09/13/2012 in the late afternoon hours, Mesa Police
detectives were conducting surveillance on suspected drug
dealers. Information obtained indicated that the suspects, Cruz
Alarcon-Lozano and Jorge Gutierez, were using PVC pipes to
transport and distribute Heroin around the valley.
Gutierez was seen leaving the 4000 block of East Contessa in
Mesa in a vehicle. Detectives began following him and made a
stop for a traffic violation. During the stop, detectives were
given consent to search the vehicle and located five 5-1/2 foot
PVC tubes with capped ends. The content of the tubes was checked
and confirmed to be Heroin. At the time of the stop, Gutierez
had his 4-month-old daughter in a car seat in the back seat
along with the drugs. Gutierez was taken into custody at that
time. The mother of the infant responded and took custody of the
child.
At
approximately the same time, a second vehicle was seen leaving
the Contessa address. Detectives followed and eventually watched
as the driver, Cruz Lozano, stopped in front of a vacant
residence and threw a PVC tube into the bushes. The tube was
retrieved and the content was confirmed to be Heroin. A traffic
stop was made and Lozano was taken into custody. The combined
amount of heroin from the two stops was 10.2 pounds.
During a search warrant related to the stops, an additional 4
pounds of Methamphetamine was recovered. The total street value
of the drugs was estimated to be $425,000. Gutierez was booked
for numerous drug charges and child endangerment. Lozano was
booked for drug charges.
