Jake Lizzarago Padilla, 30, and Nanor Natalie Yaralian, 33, were both booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of a dangerous drug for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A Phoenix couple who locked themselves in their hotel room after the required check-out time was arrested and booked into jail on various drug charges.
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Jake Lizzarago Padilla, 30, and Nanor Natalie Yaralian, 33, were both booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on charges of possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of a dangerous drug for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to a Safford Police report, an officer was initially called to the Quality Inn & Suites at 420 E. U.S. Highway at about 12:14 p.m. regarding a welfare check. Upon arrival, an employee advised that a female renter had passed the check-out time and the occupants failed to answer employees and instead had the room locked with its security latch on the inside.
After the occupants failed to answer after the officer knocked loudly on the door and announced his presence, he called for more officers to respond to the scene. After about 10 minutes after their arrival, the decision was made to cut the security latch with bolt cutters.
Officers then entered the suite and located Padilla and Yaralian in the bedroom lying on the bed. Upon doing so, Padilla reportedly pulled the sheet over his head and still refused to follow officers’ commands.
Padilla eventually complied and put his hands up over the sheet. At that time, the officers advised of seeing multiple items of drug paraphernalia, including meth pipes and bongs, used needles, and tin foil scattered around the room.
A further search of the room turned up a baggie of crystal methamphetamine, and various amounts of powdered and “chunk” forms of fentanyl, which is 50 times more potent than heroin and could be deadly to the officers if accidentally inhaled. Several digital scales were also located.
The search also turned up a backpack that contained a large amount of money, credit cards, more paraphernalia, and jewelry. The officer also located various credit cards with names other than the two subjects and packaging material commonly used in conjunction with drug dealing.
After Padilla admitted the powder and chunk substance was fentanyl and that there were other fentanyl pills in the room, Padilla and Yaralian were evaluated by paramedics from Lifeline Ambulance, who cleared them to be booked. However, the jail requested medical clearance from the hospital, so the couple was transported to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, where they were given the clearance and then were booked into jail.
