Reports of a suspicious vehicle sent Coalinga Police Officer Ybarra and his K9 partner Eli to Keck Park the evening of March 30, 2020.
The officer approached the male occupant sitting in the driver’s seat of the black Honda Accord. The driver was identified as 32-year old Israel Valenzuela of Avenal.
Early on, Valenzuela was caught in an apparent lie. He claimed to be waiting for his cousin who had the car’s keys but the officer observed the keys were in the ignition.
The officer asked Valenzuela to step out of the car, which he did and volunteered to the officer that a meth pipe containing meth would be found on the passenger side of the car.
K9 Officer Eli confirmed the presence of drugs as he and Officer Ybarra walked around the car.
A complete search of the car resulted in the finding of the prescribed medication Tramadol, a schedule 4 narcotic.
The prescription label on the bottle confirmed the medication belonged to someone other than Valenzuela. A baggy of heroin, confirmed at a later time, was also found. Valenzuela was arrested and booked at Coalinga City Hall. He has since been released with an order to appear in court.
Photos from Coalinga Police Department
