Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Jesus Vasquez was booked into the jail on charges of failure to comply with a police officer, resisting arrest, driving on a suspended/revoked driver’s license, and aggravated DUI.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man who’s driver’s license has been taken away due to multiple DUI charges allegedly swallowed an amount of heroin to avoid a possession charge during his arrest on July 27.
According to a Safford Police report, an officer was leaving a separate call for service at about 10 a.m. when he noticed a black Ford Explorer turn off U.S. Highway 191 and go past him. The officer recognized the driver as Jesus Jerman Vasquez, 32, of Solomon. The officer knew Vasquez’s driver’s license was suspended due to “numerous DUIs he had received in the past few months” and initiated a traffic stop.
By the time the officer turned around and came upon the Explorer, Vasquez had already exited the SUV and walked over to a parked motorcycle about 50 feet away. As the officer approached, he thought he saw Vasquez take something out of his pocket and possibly drop it on the ground. The officer later learned Vasquez had ingested a quantity of heroin at that time, according to his alleged statements to detention officers later that day.
The officer informed Vasquez he was under arrest for driving on a suspended license, and Vasquez allegedly tried to walk away and resisted arrest. At that time, the officer also noticed a female and another male were also in the SUV. As the officer called for backup, the second unidentified male took off running from the scene and was not located. The female was later released and the vehicle was towed from the scene.
During his arrest, the officer noticed signs of drug use with Vasquez, and the suspect allegedly admitted to using heroin and methamphetamine roughly five hours prior to police contact.
While at the jail, Vasquez reportedly refused to participate in a field sobriety test and told jail staff he had swallowed an amount of heroin, according to the officer’s report.
Vasquez was then transported to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center for treatment and a sample of his blood was taken there for DUI testing purposes.
After being medically cleared by the hospital, Vasquez was transported back to the Graham County Adult Detention Facility and was booked into the jail on charges of failure to comply with a police officer, resisting arrest, driving on a suspended/revoked driver’s license, and aggravated DUI.
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