Crime briefs: Rear seat full of meth, fentanyl leads to arrests near Silt

At approximately 12:37 p.m. April 14, a Colorado State Patrol trooper initiated a traffic stop along Interstate 70 near Silt.

According to the affidavit in support of a warrantless arrest, the silver BMW was traveling 83 mph in a posted 75-mph zone.

Upon being pulled over, the 25-year-old female driver and 34-year-old female passenger told the trooper that they were traveling from California to Minnesota for a wedding.

The affidavit stated that, “both the driver and passenger appeared nervous and were somewhat frantically looking for the documentation for the vehicle.”

After speaking with both the driver and passenger, separately, while their stories sounded “similar,” there were “some inconsistencies,” according to the affidavit.

Additionally, as the trooper spoke with the passenger he noticed that, “she was breathing very heavy,” the affidavit stated.

After running both females’ licenses through dispatch, however, the two were cleared and the trooper ultimately gave the driver a verbal warning before saying that the two were free to go.

“As the [driver] reached the driver’s side of the car, I asked her if she would mind talking to me some more,” the trooper stated in the affidavit. “I asked the [driver] if I could look in or search her car. She immediately agreed.”

Subsequently, the BMW’s driver and passenger waited outside of the vehicle as the trooper searched its interior.

“I searched the car for approximately one hour,” the trooper stated in the affidavit.

Over the course of the hour-long search, the trooper said he observed that the BMW’s rear seat was loose and noticed that portions of it were also misaligned.

“I found two aftermarket metal compartments behind the padding on both sides of the rear seat,” the trooper stated.

According to the affidavit, the trooper was able to tear a portion along both sides of the rear seat and inside each compartment found “two bundles” that appeared consistent with drugs.

At this point, with the help of an assisting state trooper, the law enforcement officers detained both females.

Later, field tests indicated that the four bundles tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Additionally, the total weight of all four bundles amounted to 3,331 grams.

The 25-year-old driver was booked into the Garfield County Jail on charges of  possession with intent to distribute more than 225 grams of schedule I or II drugs, as well as speeding 5-9mph over the maximum 75 mph limit.

The 34-year-old passenger was also booked and charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 225 grams of schedule I or II drugs.

mabennett@postindependent.com