New Year's Eve traffic stop in El Paso County turns into foot chase, drug arrests
By: -----
El Paso, TX - Bodycam video from New Year's Eve appears to show a traffic stop that escalated into a foot chase and ended in the arrest of a couple on drug charges.
According to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, on Dec. 31, at around 10:15 p.m., 34-year-old Gabriel Guzman and 29-year-old Ashley Garcia were arrested after they were pulled over and deputies reportedly found drugs in their car.
Deputies said the suspects were riding in a gray Dodge Challenger that was stopped due to a vehicle registration violation.
Deputies described that while they were interviewing the suspects, Guzman allegedly ran away.
In the bodycam video provided by the Sheriff's Office, you can see what appears to be Guzman running away from deputies before he was eventually caught at the entrance of a Ross Dress for Less store, where the chasing deputy threatened him with the Taser if he didn't start cooperating.
According to the Sheriff's Office, when deputies were arresting Guzman, he allegedly swallowed a bag containing an "unknown white powdery substance."
Deputies stated they then searched the car and found multiple bags of what they believe are drugs.
According to jail records, both suspects were booked into the El Paso County Downtown jail.
Jail records show Guzman was charged with:
* evading arrest - bond $1,000
* manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance (acetaminophen and hydrocodone) - bond $1,000
* possession of a dangerous drug - bail pending
While Garcia was charged with:
* Possession of a dangerous drug - bond $1,000
* And seven counts of manufacture or delivery of controlled substance (fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, cocaine, lisdexamfetamine, methamphetamines, alprazolam, acetaminophen and hydrocodone) - bail pending on all seven charges.