Contributed File Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Dora Gandarilla was arrested for DUI but released roughly one hour prior to a warrant being issued for her regarding a previous drug incident.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Dora Maria Gandarilla, 37, has a valid warrant for her arrest regarding charges of possession of a narcotic drug (heroin), possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a suspended license, yet she skated from custody after a DUI arrest, Monday, April 22, because the warrant came out one hour after her release.
The charges regarding the warrant stem from a Safford Police contact in August 2018 in which Gandarilla was found in possession of heroin during a traffic stop. Her case was eventually bound over to Graham County Superior Court in March after Arizona Department of Public Safety lab tests confirmed the substance located as heroin. Gandarilla was six months pregnant at the time of her August 2018 arrest.
More recently, an officer was initially dispatched at about 12:33 a.m. on April 22 to a residence in the 900 block of E. Hollywood Road regarding Gandarilla being at the house despite having a court order against her not allowing her presence.
Upon arrival, Gandarilla’s estranged husband advised Gandarilla left prior to the officer’s arrival but apparently had left a package behind and pointed to a piece of foil on the steps of the residence. The officer examined the foil and saw it contained a dark, chunky substance consistent with heroin found locally.
Later that day at about 6:30 p.m., Gandarilla was arrested for DUI after an officer pulled her over for a traffic violation in the 800 block of 11th Street.
During the police contact, the officer noticed Gandarilla appeared to be impaired and allegedly admitted to recent methamphetamine use. A search of the vehicle also located various items that are associated with drug use. Gandarilla also allegedly advised that she had slept in her vehicle in the desert the previous night and that she had taken some heroin with her to “keep her company.”
After submitted to a blood draw for laboratory analysis, Gandarilla was released and dropped off at a residence on Barney Lane to stay with a friend. While typing up his report, the officer noticed a warrant for Gandarilla’s arrest had been added roughly one hour after she was released. An additional warrant was also added Monday, April 29.
