Mariposa Sheriff: Men threw bag of meth out window before leading deputies on pursuit
PHOTO: Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office
Mariposa County deputies have arrested two men who allegedly threw a bag of methamphetamine out of their car window during a high-speed pursuit.
Around 9 PM on January 29th near the 5200 block of Highway 49, a deputy tried to pull over 38-year-old Michael Murray and 64-year-old Ricky Gonzales over a simple poorly-lit rear license plate. The two vehicles stopped along Smith Road, where the deputy saw the two men throw an object wrapped in clear plastic cellophane out the front passenger window before speeding off.
The deputy gave chase and the two vehicles eventually ended up on Highway 140 toward Midpines. By now additional deputies had joined the chase, which continued onto Slaughterhouse Road — a single-lane dirt road with potholes and mud puddles.
Deputies eventually caught up with them along a steep dirt utility pole access trail and took them into custody without further incident.
A search of their vehicle yielded 74 grams of marijuana and other items indicative of drug sales. Deputies also returned to the scene of the initial stop and recovered the discarded object, which turned out to be 73 grams of meth in a plastic bag.
Both men were booked on a variety of charges.
