CRIME
K-9 sniffs out drugs, gun after Bernalillo man flees police
Andrew Sanchez, 40, faces up to 12 years in prison after a police dog located a discarded backpack containing suspected meth, fentanyl and a pistol.
Published
BERNALILLO 鈥� A man accused of fleeing from police was arrested after a K-9 located a backpack containing suspected drugs.
Andrew Sanchez, 40, of Bernalillo, was charged July 16 with trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl, tampering with evidence and unlawfully carrying a firearm near Bernalillo Pet Care on Camino del Pueblo. Although Sanchez was released at the scene, police later obtained a search warrant for evidence collected during the incident and an arrest warrant. The arrest warrant was returned July 31.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, a K-9 officer responded after another officer reported that a man, later identified as Sanchez, fled toward Bernalillo Pet Care. The officer told the K-9 handler that Sanchez discarded a backpack while running. The officer also reported that neighbors alleged Sanchez was a frequent drug user.
The police dog conducted a narcotics sniff of the backpack and alerted to the presence of controlled substances, according to the affidavit.
When officers later searched the backpack, they found a pistol, unspent cartridges, seven plastic bags containing substances believed to be fentanyl and methamphetamine, and other evidence.
Sanchez could face 12 years in prison if he is convicted.
The Rio Rancho Observer is a sister newspaper of the Journal.
