Wily drug suspect arrested after trying to play MPD officer

A 33-year-old Maricopa man faces drug charges after a police officer discovered he was in possession of a torch lighter, a pipe and narcotics.

A March 17 probable cause statement reports that Jovany Vasquez was sitting by an electrical box at North Wilson Avenue and West Garvey Avenue with a sweater draped over his head and a blow torch on his lap, the arresting officer said.

The officer said Vasquez told him he found the broken glass pipe, which contained black residue and was the type of pipe used to smoke methamphetamine and other drugs. He was then placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia, the officer stated.

During the search the officer said as his hand neared Vasquez’s right pants pocket he began to fake a seizure, slowly fell to the ground and rolled onto the pocket the officer was trying to search.

“Jovany’s symptoms went away after I removed the pills and a Maricopa Fire said his vital signs appeared to be normal,” the officer said.

The officer then rolled him over and found nine M30 blue pills in Vasquez’s pocket. He also was carrying a piece of aluminum foil the officer believed was used to smoke drugs.

The officer field tested the pills, which indicated they contained Fentanyl.

Vasquez told the officer he did not know he had pills in his pocket but said he was asked by someone at a nearby gas station to deliver the item.

When the officer told Vasquez he faced a greater charge for delivering the item, Vasquez then admitted the pills were his.

Vasquez faces up to four years of incarceration.