Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Carlos Benavidez was arrested and booked on a warrant, drug charges, and resisting arrest.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man wanted on a warrant after a petition to revoke his probation was filed was captured Friday with multiple containers of methamphetamine after a brief struggle with probation officers.
Carlos David Benavidez, 35, of Safford, was arrested on his warrant and new charges of resisting arrest, possession of a dangerous drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia and was booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility. Benavidez was wanted on a warrant regarding his previous conviction of possession of a dangerous drug (methamphetamine), for which he was placed on intensive probation in 2020.
According to a Safford Police report, two Graham County Probation officers were driving southbound on 20th Avenue when they observed Benavidez walking down the street. The probation officers were aware of Benavidez’s warrant and contacted him.
Benavidez allegedly denied his own identity and resisted when the probation officers attempted to detain him. After a brief struggle that resulted in an injury to one of the probation officers, Benavidez was taken into custody and the Safford officer was called to the scene.
A search of Benavidez and his backpack resulted in officers finding two digital scales with drug residue, two glass vials with methamphetamine, a homemade pill bottle/bong with a “large amount of usable” methamphetamine, two syringes, and a glass meth pipe. A pill bottle with a small amount of marijuana and a glass marijuana pipe was also located.
During interrogation, Benavidez allegedly admitted running from the probation officers because he knew he was going to go to jail and he didn’t want to. He said he struggled with drug addiction and smokes methamphetamine, according to the police report.
Benavidez’s belongings were left with the probation officers to return to his girlfriend, and he was taken to jail and booked on the above-listed charges.
