—
When deputies asked 21-year-old Ruben Orozco what he was doing in an Athens restaurant parking lot on Monday afternoon, he told them he was waiting for a friend to eat lunch.
The explanation sounded a little fishy to Limestone County Sheriff’s Lt. Lance Royals and Deputy Justin Flanagan, who noticed Orozco had a fresh plate of chicken or shrimp with lettuce and carrots and what appeared to be a foil-wrapped baked potato in his 1999 silver Mustang.
Turned out, the “baked potato” was 5 ounces of uncut cocaine valued at more than $6,000, Royals said.
The uneaten meal was not the only clue deputies had to go on.
“We had received information that he was transporting illegal drugs, so we set up surveillance,” Royals said. “We saw a vehicle matching his at Mexico Lindo on Jefferson Street. He came out of the restaurant and went to the Family Dollar and never did leave (the restaurant parking lot). He kept walking around and got back in his car, so we made contact with him and asked him what he was doing.”
The restaurant played no part in the alleged crime. Authorities said Orozco brought the cocaine with him in his car and apparently planned to meet with the buyer in the lot.
“He was there to do a drug transaction but he failed to make the transaction because his buyer didn’t show up,” Royals said.
After answering a few questions, Orozco gave deputies permission to search his car.
“He didn’t think we’d notice it,” Royals said of the foil wrapper. “When we opened it and found the cocaine, he said it wasn’t his.”
Orozco was charged with trafficking cocaine and, later, with giving false information for telling deputies his name was Adrian Barragan and that he was homeless. He remained in the Limestone County Jail Tuesday. A judge will set bond once Orozco gives authorities his address, which is believed to be in Huntsville. Because Orozco is in the country illegally, Limestone will notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to see if they want him, Royals said.
When asked what prompted deputies to search what simply looked like a baked potato, Royals said, “If they can conceal drugs in it, we look there.”
It is not unusual for a suspect to try to secret drugs, and they are continually devising new ways to do it, said Richard Johnson, a police officer and trainer in Tampa Bay, Fla., and contributor to the Web site Blue Sheepdog, a site offering training and officer survival tips at www.bluesheepdog.com:
• Contraband hidden in a woman’s wig.
• Bags of heroin secreted in teddy bears.
• Marijuana concealed in the hollowed out boards of wooden pallets.
• Cocaine masked in the soles of shoes.
• Marijuana bundles tucked in artificial landscaping stones.
• Drugs stashed in the manifold of an engine.
• Marijuana hidden in metal cans disguised as food
Local News
Related Photos
-
This photograph shows how the meal looked before deputies investigated inside what appears to be a foil-wrapped baked potato. Courtesy photo
-
This photo shows how it looked after the foil was peeled back to expose 5 ounces of uncut cocaine that deputies say is worth more than $6,000. Courtesy photo
Discussion
'Potato' in lunch conceals cocaine
- Local News
-
-
Alabama lawmakers return for 2012 regular session
Alabama legislators return to Montgomery for the 2012 regular session facing a full agenda that will include giving Alabama's toughest in the nation immigration law a tune up and balancing the budgets in what promises to be a difficult budget year.
-
Alabama legislators to get gloomy budget forecasts
Legislators arriving in Montgomery for the start of the 2012 legislative session will get hit with bad news.
-
Albertville school wins national recycling competition
Students at a north Alabama school are champions of a national recycling competition.
-
Thach Road house fire investigated
Limestone officials have asked the deputy state fire marshal to determine what caused a fire that destroyed about half of a home on Thach Road Saturday night in northeastern Limestone County.
-
School board to vote on land for Ardmore gym
Limestone County school board members are expected to vote tonight on whether to buy additional land near Ardmore High School to build a better gymnasium.
-
County, city OK Carpenter incentives
The Limestone County Commission and Athens City Council approved a host of incentives Monday for Pennsylvania steel company Carpenter Technology Corporation, which plans to construct a facility off U.S. 31 just north of Calhoun Community College.
-
MORE STORIES: Click LOCAL NEWS bar at top left
Click "Local News" bar at top left for more stories
-
BREAKING: County, city approve incentives for steel plant
The commission agreed to a sales tax abatement in the amount of $8.162 million through July 2014 and a property tax abatement of more than $13.9 million over 10 years.
- Relay for Life team hosts fishing tourney to help fight cancer
-
State children's choir to perform in Athens
The choir will appear at First Baptist Church in Athens at 10:30 a.m. March 4 during morning worship services.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Alabama lawmakers return for 2012 regular session
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Murder Trial for Ex-U.Va. Lacrosse Player Begins
NY Giants Touch Down Victorious
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Raw Video: Deadly Helicopter Crash in Australia
Raw Video: Smoke, Purported Gunfire in Syria
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys
Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes
NJ Museum Finds 19th Century Recording
Snow Causes Disruptions in Much of Europe
Clinton: Vetoed U.N. Syria Resolution 'travesty'
Romney Picks Up Decisive Win in Nevada Caucuses
