Suspect tries to hide meth on baby

By Jon Johnson, Staff Writer
Published on Wednesday, December 27, 2006 12:57 PM MST

Police pulled over a white Ford pickup for a routine traffic stop late Monday night and found more than eight grams of crystal methamphetamine hidden on a baby.

According to police reports, Joseph Bejarano of Tucson was driving westbound on Highway 70 with his girlfriend, Julie Ann Rodriguez, who was holding her infant daughter on her lap.

Officer Hershel Medlin noticed that the license plate light was burnt out and initiated a traffic stop.

The driver could not produce any paperwork for the vehicle or any for himself. Officer Medlin informed the suspects that he was not going to ticket them but they needed to place the baby in the car seat in the back.

According to officer Medlin, the driver started to act nervous as officers noticed damage to the truck’s steering column. He asked Rodriguez to exit the vehicle, and officer Medlin noticed Rodriguez attempt to hide something between the baby and the baby’s blanket.

Officer Medlin asked Rodriguez what she was hiding, and she replied that it was a tampon. When Rodriguez was informed her baby would be searched, she voluntarily gave officer Medlin a meth pipe and a clear plastic baggie containing more than 8 grams of meth.

Rodriguez claimed Bejarano gave the drugs to her to hide as they were being pulled over. She told officers he had just gotten out of prison Dec. 1 and that she was scared.

Officers attempted to handcuff Bejarano, who struggled with them and had to be taken to the ground.

Bejarano admitted the pipe and drugs were his.

He stated he was going to sell them in Safford because he was just released from prison and he needed the money.

Bejarano’s mother, Carmen Escobedo, was called to the scene. Officers placed the baby seat in Escobedo’s vehicle, and she left with the infant.

Bejarano was booked into the Graham County Jail on charges of possession of a dangerous drug for sale, transportation of a dangerous drug for sale, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest.

Rodriguez was booked into the Graham County Jail on charges of possession of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and using a minor in a drug offense.

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Comments

11 comment(s)

lorraine wrote on Jan 24, 2010 12:15 PM:

" I AM TRYING TO FIND KARL AND SHARON WATSON THEY USED TO BE A COUNTRY BAND CALL ROJOE AND SAPPHIRE ITS BEEN ALONG TIME .DO I HAVE THE RIGHT ONES ?THANK YOU "

Ian Mccartney wrote on Sep 17, 2008 4:20 PM:

" I went to this camp in the summer of 05 when they were located in concho. I highly doubt that vallentine is telling the truth because when i went they was plenty of food. I remeber that they made us but on spf 50 sunscreen by the gallons. They provided us with gallons of water a day. I think that denton should have stayed in concho because it was a lot better. Big deal the recruits have no ac or water. what to expect bootcamp to be a vaction? And by the way the dirt isnt going to kill you "

H. Craig Bradley wrote on Apr 18, 2008 5:29 PM:

" The percentage of Americans who recreate in the wild outdoors of our National Forests is shrinking all the time. Today's America is predominately an urban/suburban America. Increasingly, individuals can not part with their IPods, Cell Phones, Laptop Computers and Navigational Aides (GPS). Roughing it outdoors is an experience that fewer and fewer individuals are getting "

Anonymous wrote on Apr 3, 2008 5:06 PM:

" Why not tell these people and organizations how you feel?

Vice Principal Kerry Wilson
Principal Robert Beeman
Superintendent Mark Tregaskes
Safford, Arizona Middle School

734 11Th Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone Number: (928) 348-7040

http://az.localschooldirectory.com/schools_info.php/school_id/3495 "

THS Alum 2004 wrote on Mar 20, 2008 4:21 PM:

" I graduated with these guys and it's sad to say that I'm really not that surprised. They're meat heads and are a "few fries short of a happy meal". The authorities did nothing wrong, these people made a dumb choice and will have to deal with the consequences.

P.S. Doug did it. "

blah wrote on Mar 6, 2008 8:29 AM:

" Whatever "

colton wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:02 PM:

" i think doug grant is innocent an i think you should not charge him for murder "

saline wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:01 PM:

" hello hello hello hello hello hello "

Michael Jackson wrote on Dec 11, 2007 3:02 PM:

" Why doesn't this newspaper admit that the story reported by Pam Crandall, as related by Jesse MacBeth, in the above article, is a flat out lie??? MacBeth has since admitted that he did not go to Iraq and that he made up all of the stories repeated by Pam Crandall. Please tell the truth. The longer that the Courier stands by these lies the sillier it looks. "

Jesu Christ! wrote on Oct 25, 2007 8:53 PM:

" And the authorities wonder why it is that students have so little respect for authority. If I were this kid (or the kid's mother) I would never look at authority the same way again. "

Daniel Connell wrote on Oct 23, 2007 9:35 AM:

" i am writting to say that this was a harmless prank and just a little fun for these two innocent teenagers. they should have not gotten in that much trouble for just a harmless prank. being a friend to them you wouldnt see it in my view. they were just looking to have fun in safford because there is nothing else to do and jose hernandez should have not been sent to ADJC on his first crime he ever commited. "

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