Vehicle stop in Dos Palos turns up hidden drugs, police say

A search of a car in Dos Palos turned up packages of methamphetamine and landed two people in jail, according to police.

Officer Melisa Gutierrez was investigating the suspected unlawful use of a credit card when she spotted a vehicle that may have been connected to the case, the Police Department said in a statement Saturday.

Upon stopping the vehicle, Gutierrez requested the assistance of a K9 unit, which “signaled” on the car. A search uncovered two 8-ounce packages of methamphetamine, police said. A search warrant was obtained and officers then discovered two other packages of methamphetamine in the air-conditioning duct of the vehicle.

Cristal Arrieta Medina and Albert Phillip Cardenas were arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sale, the department said.

A 10-year-old girl who was in the vehicle was turned over to child protective services.

Cardenas, 28, of Pomona, was being held Sunday at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility on suspicion of felony and misdemeanor drug charges, a misdemeanor charge of misuse of a credit card, and a felony charge of child endangerment with possible bodily injury. Bond was set at $92,200.

Arrieta Medina, 30, faced similar charges and also was held Sunday in lieu of bond set at $92,200.

Police were searching for another woman, Monika Retano, whom they said has a previous arrest record from San Diego County.

Anyone with information about Retano’s whereabouts was asked to contact the Dos Palos Police Department.

This story was originally published December 18, 2016 at 3:20 PM with the headline "Vehicle stop in Dos Palos turns up hidden drugs, police say."