SCSO arrest driver, confiscate 52 grams of cocaine

Chief Deputy Kevin Roach and Deputy Trent McLane initiated a traffic stop on a white SUV traveling northbound on US 183 South on the evening on Oct. 22. The driver and lone occupant, Jose Luis Nunez-Rodriguez, was unable to provide any type of identification. He claimed to not speak English and initially only gave part of his full name.

Roach and McLane contacted a Border Patrol Agent stationed in Abilene, who covers Stephens County. The agent interviewed Nunez-Rodriguez over the phone on the side of the road. The agent determined that the suspect was in the country illegally.

Sheriff William Holt said, “The agent was asked to see if the suspect would give consent for the S.O. to search his vehicle. Consent was given to the agent/S.O. by the suspect. Before searching, Chief Deputy Roach asked the suspect if he had any drugs, weapons, or anything else that was illegal in the vehicle. The suspect admitted to transporting cocaine and marijuana.”

Approximately 52 grams/1.87 ounces of cocaine and approximately 23.81grams/0.84 of an ounce of marijuana were found in the vehicle. Holt said the street value for the cocaine is approximately $2,600 and for the marijuana is approximately $238.

“This amount of powder cocaine seized is an uncommon find for law enforcement in our county,” said Holt. “In the last few years, when cocaine has been found on a local person, it has usually been five grams or less, and a lot of times even less than one gram. When someone is hauling almost two ounces of any drug into our county, they are without a doubt dealing the drug.”

The SCSO said the suspect’s purported origin of travel was Austin. His destination was his girlfriend’s house in Breckenridge. He is currently in Stephens County Jail on an immigration detainer from the Department of Homeland Security and for the onsite charges of: Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 equal to or more than four grams but less than 200 grams and for Possession of Marijuana less than two ounces. The cocaine charge is a First Degree Felony and the marijuana charge is a Class B Misdemeanor. His bond for the cocaine delivery charge is $100,000.