POLICE: Florida man busted in Centre County for drug trafficking

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Florida man is facing charges in Centre County for alleged drug possession, attempting to flee from police and firearm possession despite being a felon.

Xavier Sanchez, 31, of West Palm Beach, FL, was arrested Tuesday following a traffic stop along Interstate 80.

Troopers from Pennsylvania State Police were monitoring traffic near mile marker 166 on I-80 around 1:47 p.m. when they saw a sedan pass with a Florida registration. Charges show that police ran the plate and found it was registered to Sanchez, who had his license suspended.

After following the vehicle briefly, troopers believed Sanchez was trying to avoid police interaction by attempting to take the Millersburg exit. State police activated their lights and pulled over Sanchez’s vehicle.

Officers noted in the criminal complaint that as soon as they made contact with Sanchez, they could smell marijuana. Sanchez was asked to exit the vehicle, however he refused. Backup was called as police were concerned that Sanchez might try to run.

When more state police troopers arrived, they placed a stop stick under his back right tire in case he attempted to drive off, according to the affidavit. Sanchez was asked again to exit the vehicle but didn’t comply and attempted to drive away. The stopstick worked immediately, causing one of his tires to deflate. Police then attempted two pit maneuvers near mile marker 155 where his vehicle was eventually stopped.

Police asked Sanchez to exit the vehicle again, now at gunpoint, charges show. He still refused and was allegedly digging through several handbags inside the vehicle. Charges show that a passenger exited the vehicle and attempted to conceal what Sanchez was doing inside. Both Sanchez and the passenger were arrested.

Charges show that while talking with police, Sanchez allegedly admitted there was $5,000 in the vehicle, a handgun and several ounces of marijuana. He claimed the gun belonged to the passenger, as he was a felon not to possess a firearm. He also told police he had a valid Florida marijuana card. Troopers were able to confirm that Sanchez had a large criminal history of drug trafficking.

When asked about his travels, Sanchez told police he and his passenger were traveling from Florida to Minnesota. According to the criminal complaint, state police recognized that as a narcotics trafficking route. Sanchez alleged to police that he did not make the trip often, however, a license plate query showed the trip has been made monthly.

The vehicle was taken back to the Rockview barracks and was subsequently searched after receiving a warrant.

K-9 Diego was requested to search the vehicle and detected the smell of marijuana, cocaine hydrochloride, heroin hydrochloride and methamphetamine hydrochloride.

Charges show that in the vehicle they found:

• A Glock 17 9mm
• 17 RD Glock Magazine (2)
• soft black gun case
• Blazer 9mm FMJ (27)
• black mechanic gloves
• red bandana
• Two iPhones
• $5,200 in $100 bills
• $500 in $20 bills
• Two black bags containing marijuana
• Eight backs containing edibles
• Nine clear bags containing marijuana
• A red bottle contacting THC liquid
• Three glassine bags containing crack
• 49 glassine bags containing ecstasy pills
• A metal vial contacting crack
• An Orange bottle containing six underknown pills
• Marijuana blunt
• Three glass smoking devices
• Bulk packaging material
• Black digital scale

Sanchez allegedly claimed ownership of all the drug items found in the vehicle, according to the affidavit. The total weight of marijuana was approximately one pound.

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Sanchez’s bail was denied due to being a felon from Florida, possessing multiple weapons, drugs, money and attempting to flee.

He is charged with felony counts of drug trafficking, attempting to flee from police, prohibited possession of a firearm, and firearm being carried without a license. He is also facing misdemeanor charges for resisting arrest, recklessly endangering another person, marijuana possession and drug possession.

No charges have been filed against Sanchez’s passenger as of this writing.

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