Cocaine found after routine stop

GONZALES – Three people were arrested after police said one was caught driving drunk, and two others were caught with illegal drugs.

At 3 p.m. Nov. 24, Officer Tomas Garza was driving west on Cone St. when he saw a vehicle driving without headlights, Capt. Allen Taylor said. Pulling the vehicle over, he identified the driver as Jesus Guadalupe Guerra, 52, of Gonzales. Passengers in the car were identified as Christina Marek, 51, and Christopher Lynn Mendez, 28, both of Gonzales.

While speaking with Guerra the officer noticed Guerra's eyes were bloodshot, and could smell alcohol on his breath. While searching the car, officers also found a white substance believed to be cocaine and arrested Marek and Mendez for possession of a controlled substance. Guerra was arrested for driving while intoxicated, Taylor said.

While in custody at Gonzales County Jail, Mendez told officers he had swallowed an undisclosed amount of cocaine, so he was additionally charged with tampering with evidence.