06/01/15   Charges against Saul Cruz Garcia were filed by the Jefferson County

On April 18, Pine Bluff narcotics officers arrested 30 year old Saul Cruz Garcia, an illegal alien, and charged him with trafficking a controlled substance.  Garcia was arrested after a confidential informant made a purchase of one pound of meth from him in his room at a Pine Bluff hotel. Garcia was stopped at Lake Saracen and Martha Mitchell.  A search of of Garcia's vehicle by officers and K-9, Sgt Zeke located drugs. 

The truck was taken to the Pine Bluff Police Department Automotive shop, and a search of the vehicle turned up the cash Garcia had accepted from the informant, which was counterfeit, two bundles a substance believed to be meth. Speaking through an interpreter, Garcia said he was from Michoacán, Mexico.  He said he crossed the border in September, 2014 in Mexicali. He also claimed the money found in the car seat that he brought from his home in Texas to buy vehicles.  Garcia was unaware the money inside the car seat was counterfeit and denied any knowledge of the meth. Charges against Garcia were filed by the Jefferson County Prosecutor's office on May 20.