Grants, NM — In the early hours of February 19, 2024, a routine patrol in Grants, New Mexico, led to the arrest of Elias Estevan for suspected possession of methamphetamine. A sergeant from the Grants Police Department allegedly saw Estevan acting suspiciously near a closed Phillip 66 gas station around 2:30 a.m.
According to the police report, while he was dressed in a black hoodie and sweatpants, officers watched as Estevan allegedly peered into the windows of the closed business and attempted to enter the front door. Upon noticing the police presence, he started walking away, discarding items into a trashcan at a fueling station.
According to the report, as they began to approach, officers detected a strong odor of alcohol from the man, who claimed he was merely out for exercise. The individual, who identified himself as Elias Estevan, lacked any form of identification at the time of the encounter.
Further investigation by the officers uncovered suspicious items in the trashcan, including a used syringe, a metal straw associated with drug use, and a clear plastic baggie containing a white crystalline substance. Preliminary tests conducted on the substance confirmed it as methamphetamine, weighing approximately 0.31 grams.
Estevan was taken into custody and, after medical clearance, was transported to Core Civic for incarceration. The discovered items were seized as evidence, part of GPD’s continuous efforts of local law enforcement in combating drug-related activities within the community.