Suspect in pot-for-sale case claims just lending a helping hand

A woman who said she was headed to Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Friday was arrest by Pinal County Sheriff deputies after being stopped for traffic violations that lead officers to discover seven people and a bundle of marijuana hiding under a blanket in her SUV.

Sheriff Paul Babeu said in a press release, “(Janette Salido) Hernandez told detectives she left the home she was living at in Phoenix and was headed to Harrah’s casino. She claimed she saw a male subject standing by the side of Highway 347 attempting to wave her down. She stopped and the next thing she knew the male subject and all of the others got into her vehicle.

“Hernandez said she usually stops and helps people when they are stranded. The males offered her $300 in cash to take them to Phoenix. She knew what she was doing was wrong. She also claimed no knowledge to the marijuana inside of her vehicle.”

The case started about 10:10 a.m. Friday when a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputy stopped a Ford Explorer for traffic violations at State Route 347 at mile marker 182 near Maricopa. The female driver of the vehicle was later identified by her Mexico driver’s license as Janette Salido-Hernandez, 29.

Inside the vehicle, the deputy could see there was a male front seat passenger and three male passengers sitting in the second row back. In the rear cargo compartment the deputy saw a blanket moving.

Underneath the blanket, the deputy discovered seven males and a bundle of marijuana. The front-seat passenger also had a bundle of marijuana between his legs.

The passengers admitted they were in the United States illegally. All claimed no knowledge about the marijuana.