Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – An early morning traffic stop on Monday, Nov. 6 led to the arrest of two Crockett women on drug charges.

Mary Lois Harris, 54, and Angelmira Ortiz Nino, 50, were taken into custody following a routine stop for failing to signal a turn and charged with multiple offenses.

Harris was charged with possession of a controlled substance, penalty group one and possession of a dangerous drug. Nino was charged with possession of a dangerous drug and driving while her license was invalid. Law enforcement officials also discovered Nino had a warrant for her arrest from the City of Crockett for a previous offense of driving with an invalid license.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Crockett Police Sgt. Alfredo Fajardo initiated a traffic stop at approximately 2:23 a.m., Monday morning, after he observed a Nissan pickup truck which failed to signal when it turned off of a roadway into a parking lot in the 600 block of East Houston Avenue.

“During the traffic stop, I recognized the driver as Angelmira Nino and the only passenger as Mary Harris. From previous cases and encounters, I knew both subjects were known drug users. Also during the traffic stop, I noticed both subjects appeared nervous and Nino was visibly shaking,” the affidavit reported.

Nino was asked for her driver’s license, according to the report, but informed Fajardo her license was suspended because of surcharges.

“A driver license check confirmed that she did have a Texas driver license, but that it had expired in 2004 and had four active suspensions,” the affidavit stated.

Fajardo asked for and received consent to search the truck “… and they were both asked to step out of the vehicle. After they exited, I asked Harris for consent to search her pockets and she told me that she had a pipe used to smoke crack cocaine in her pocket.”

During the search of Harris, Fajardo found two pipes inside of Harris’ sweater, the report indicated. Inside one of the pipes, the report furthered, was a white residue which field tested positive for cocaine.

While the vehicle was being inventoried, a bottle of prescription Promethazine was found on the passenger floorboard. The prescription was for an individual not present at the scene and the vehicle was not registered under the name on the pill bottle.

According to www.webmd.com, “Promethazine is used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting related to certain conditions (such as before/after surgery, motion sickness). It is also used to treat allergy symptoms such as rash, itching, and runny nose. It may be used to help you feel sleepy/relaxed before and after surgery or to help certain narcotic pain relievers (such as meperidine) work better.”

Harris and Nino were taken into custody and booked into the Houston County Jail. Harris was charged with possession of a controlled substance, penalty group one and possession of a dangerous drug. Nino was charged with possession of a dangerous drug and driving with an invalid license.

Both Harris and Nino are still held at the Houston County Jail. Harris is held on a total bond of $6,000 while Nino is held on a total bond of $3,000.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].