SUSPECTS LOSE PILE OF DRUGS AND CASH

West Memphis Police Chalk Up Three Successes

West Memphis police made three major busts this week, confiscating large
amounts of cocaine and cash and making six arrests. Officers patrolling
eastbound Interstate 40 late Monday morning stopped the driver of a Chevy
pickup towing a 1986 Buick Regal for an unidentified traffic infraction.
The driver consented to a search, and a drug dog alerted the officers to
the Regal's engine block.

The car was examined and its engine was found to have been modified so the
area where the pistons and cam shafts would normally be found was cut out
for storage of 12 wrapped kilos (about 26 pounds) of cocaine.

Passenger Candelario Ontiveros and driver Luis Enrique Arredondo, both 20
and both with Phoenix addresses, were charged with possession of cocaine
with intent to distribute, according to police Capt. Mike Allen. The
shipment was believed bound for Atlanta.

In a separate case, police ended a six-week investigation Monday by
executing a search warrant at 618 S. 18th St. and seized five pounds of
powdered cocaine and 1 pound, 5 ounces of crack, Allen said.

A rifle, two handguns and $57,397 in cash were also confiscated.

Arrested were Fredrick Tyrone Ellis, 23; Dedrick M. Robinson, 24, and David
Lee McVay, 42. Ellis and McVay tried to flee and were apprehended. All
three were charged with possession with intent to deliver, simultaneous
possession of illegal drugs and firearms, and misdemeanor marijuana
possession charges. Ellis was also charged for being a felon in possession
of a firearm and for interference with a government operation by at first
giving authorities a false name.

After calling a press conference to announce the first two busts, officers
patrolling westbound I-40 Tuesday morning stopped an F-350 pickup bearing
Texas tags and found $75,910 in cash shrink-wrapped in the spare tire. They
arrested Lucio Garcia, 25, of Quinlan, Texas, on a charge of laundering
criminal proceeds.

Garcia allegedly told police he had just come from Tunica, but Allen said
he didn't believe the cash was winnings from gambling.