2015-04-03 manhunt
Drug and Firearms Arrest – Southwest 38th Avenue
Two Amarillo men were arrested following a traffic stop that led to a brief manhunt and the seizure of drugs and a firearm in the 1000 block of Southwest 38th Avenue.[1]
Traffic Stop
At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, an Amarillo motorcycle officer stopped a white Lincoln MKX in the 1000 block of Southwest 38th Avenue. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, according to an Amarillo Police Department news release issued Friday.
The officer asked the driver, later identified as Joseph Francis Samora, 24, of Amarillo, to step out of the car. As he exited, the officer noticed marijuana in the center console. The officer handcuffed Samora and told him to stand behind the car while he spoke with the passenger, Domonic Perales, 32, also of Amarillo.
Manhunt
As the officer questioned Perales through the driver's side window, Perales bolted out of the passenger side and ran north down an alley toward Interstate 27. He dropped at least two bags of drugs as he ran, police said.
The motorcycle officer stayed with Samora and radioed for backup while letting them know where Perales was running. As more officers arrived, police set up a perimeter and closed down roads from South Washington Street to South Hayden Street and from I-27 to Southwest 38th Avenue.
SWAT officers on other business in the area showed up to help as motorcycle units and police vehicles swarmed the area. At one point, a woman living in the 3700 block of South Hughes Street told police there was a man in her back yard. Officers began searching the street house-by-house until they reached the woman's residence, where officers warned Perales they were about to unleash a police German shepherd in the home.
Generally, officers give three warnings before releasing the dog, Lt. Gary Trupe said, to give the person a chance to surrender. After the third warning, Perales called out to police, Trupe said. Officers led Perales out the front door at gunpoint and he was taken into custody.
Evidence Seized
Police found:
- A "large" bag of marijuana under the Lincoln's center console
- A bag of methamphetamine discarded in the alley
- Other small bags near the car
- A gun hidden under the car's rear tire
A review of the motorcycle officer's onboard camera showed Samora taking the .380 semi-automatic pistol from his waistband and kicking it under the car while the officer's attention was focused on Perales, police said.
Charges
Both men were booked into Randall County Jail.
Samora faces charges of:
- Possession of marijuana, less than 2 ounces
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Perales was booked on:
- Possession of a controlled substance, more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams
- Evading arrest or detention
- Possession of marijuana, more than 2 ounces but less than 4 ounces
- Possession of drug paraphernalia