News

A detective with the Fortuna Police Department uncovered 2 pounds of methamphetamine Wednesday during a routine traffic stop on Riverwalk Drive, according to a press release.

Detective Brian Taylor was on patrol when he watched a driver commit a traffic violation and pulled him over, at which time he “noticed the smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle,” the release states.

Since a Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office canine unit was already nearby, Taylor requested its assistance and the dog “immediately signaled that it sensed the presence of illegal narcotic,” according to the FPD.

During a search of the vehicle, “two packages were located in a duffle bag in the back seat area of the car which was determined to contain methamphetamine,” the release states.

The driver was interviewed and release while the passenger, 23-year-old Fortuna resident Miguel Carrillo Villalobos, was arrested on suspicion of transporting drugs for sale.

Read the full Fortuna Police Department release below:

On Wednesday June 12th, a Fortuna detective recovered 2 pounds of methamphetamine during a routine traffic stop on Riverwalk Drive in Fortuna.

While on patrol, Detective Brian Taylor observed the driver of a Honda Accord make a traffic violation. Upon making initial contact with the driver, he noticed the smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

While he was speaking with the driver and passenger, an investigator from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office Canine Unit was in the immediate area for another assignment. Because the officer smelled marijuana during the traffic stop, the canine was requested and immediately signaled that it sensed the presence of illegal narcotics.

During a subsequent search two packages were located in a duffle bag in the back seat area of the car which was determined to contain methamphetamine.

The driver, 18 year old, Angelica Carrillo Villalobos of Fortuna was interviewed and released at the scene.

Her passenger, 23 year old, Miguel Carrillo Villalobos of Fortuna was arrested for Transportation for Sale of a Controlled Substance; HS Code 11379 (a), which is a felony. He was transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

The two current Fortuna Police Department Detective positions are fully funded by the Measure E tax approved by Fortuna voters in November 2016.