Correction: Cowlitz Sheriff Drug Dog "hits" On Bag Of Heroin And Meth, And Cash.  Man Arrested For 2nd Time In 3 Weeks.   -08/08/18

Correction:

The first arrest was July 13th not September...

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Kelso, Washington – Cowlitz County Deputy Sheriff’s arrest a Kelso Washington man twice in 3 weeks for possession of a large amount of drugs and cash.

Arrested:   Anthony Jace “AJ”  McCauley Mendez, 30 years of age.

The first arrest was on September 17th and occurred when Sergeant Andy Nunes attempted to stop a motorcycle.   After a short pursuit, the driver was arrested.   At the time of the arrest Mendez possessed:

1) 67 grams of Heroin (street value approx. $6. 700.00

2) 149 grams of Meth.  Street value of about  $10,430.00

3) 6 Morphine pills.    Street value of about $300.00

4) $2,202.94 in cash.

Mendez was booked for the drug charges, and felony eluding. 

The second time Mendez was arrested was last Saturday, August 4th.    This arrest was the result of a traffic stop (for speeding) by Deputy Ness Aguilar, who also has a narcotic detection K9 “Kelo”.   Deputy Jason Hammer found a backpack near the motorcycle that Mendez was operating at the time of the stop.   K9 Kelo was brought to the bag and he alerted to the presence of narcotics.   Deputies obtained a search warrant for the bag and learned that the bag contained. 

1) 104 grams of Heroin.  Street Value of $10,400

2) 79 grams of Meth.  Street Value of $$3,430.

3) A loaded 45 cal pistol.

4) $6,799.00 in cash.

Mendez was booked for the drug charges as well as illegal possession of a firearm.  He was also charged for Criminal Impersonation because he initially told Deputy Aguliar that he was his brother. 

The Sheriff’s Office is pursuing a seizure of the cash as proceeds from illegal drug trafficking.