Two Glencoe people were arrested on methamphetamine-related charges following a bust by the Southwest Metro Drug Task Force on Aug. 22 and 23 in Glencoe. The McLeod County Sheriff’s Office, Hutchinson Police Department and Glencoe Police Department assisted.
After police prepared a search warrant to a residence on the 1200 block of 15th Street Southeast, an individual left the area in a vehicle and was stopped shortly after by Glencoe police and a deputy from the sheriff’s office. During the stop, a glass pipe and a plastic package were found and field tested positive for containing methamphetamine.
Police also found that a female passenger was carrying 16 grams of methamphetamine in her purse. Caliesto Naszhara Efani Hutchins, 19, of Glencoe, was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance and taken to McLeod County Jail.
The driver, Leonel Balderas Jr., 32, of Glencoe was not arrested immediately, as police tried to determine if he could help them gather further information.
Back at the residence, police searched a Chevrolet Impala, where ammunition and marijuana were found. Police also searched a pop-up camper owned by Balderas and found 83.2 grams of methamphetamine, 144.17 grams of marijuana and a loaded SR9 Ruger handgun.
The next day, an officer conducted surveillance on the residence. Balderas and an unidentified female passenger left the residence in the Impala. The officer conducted a traffic stop in the McLeod County Courthouse parking lot. Balderas was arrested on three felony counts for alleged sale and possession of a controlled substance and alleged illegal possession of a firearm, and he was taken to McLeod County Jail. The female passenger was temporarily detained and released.
New charges for the methamphetamine found in Balderas’ car are pending.
