On Monday, October 29, a Pinal County deputy arrested two men after being found with 205 pounds of marijuana in their truck. The deputy stopped an F-150 pickup truck north of Interstate 10 on Monday night after witnessing several traffic violations.
The men, a 43-year-old from Elroy and an 18-year-old Mexican citizen, were arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana, among other charges. The 18-year-old admitted entering the country illegally and was being detained for federal authorities.
On Friday, October 26, at 8:35 a.m. deputies from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to assist members of the U.S. Border Patrol with a vehicle that was failing to yield. The vehicle was a Ford Thunderbird green in color with two individuals inside of it.
U.S Border Patrol had attempted to stop the vehicle on a traffic stop but the vehicle fled. U.S. Border Patrol deployed spikes and hit the front right tire causing it to deflate. The vehicle continued to flee after the tire fell off the rim.
The vehicle headed northbound on Indian Route 15 towards Casa Grande. Deputies started towards this area in an attempt to locate the vehicle. The vehicle made it into Casa Grande, where it collided with another vehicle. After striking the vehicle and fleeing, the Casa Grande Police Department along with our deputies began to pursue it. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office helicopter was overhead and began to call out the pursuit. The vehicle then headed eastbound on Highway 84 towards Eloy.
At 8:56 a.m. the vehicle came to a stop at Alsdorf and Highway 84 in the City of Eloy. The driver and passenger inside of the vehicle, opened the doors and fled on foot. Our helicopter maintained a visual on the two individuals and directed ground units to their location. Both individuals were arrested in the carport of a residence in the 400 block of Hinton Street.
The passenger in the vehicle was identified as Jose Juan Cantu Millanes (age 19 from Mexico) and the driver was identified as Daniel Alvarado (age 18, a U.S. citizen).
Inside of the vehicle, deputies located 12 bundles of packaged Marijuana which weighed approximately 240 pounds. The street value of the marijuana is estimated to be worth $180,000.
Jose Juan Cantu Millanes and Daniel Alvarado will be booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center on the following charges, Possession of Marijuana for Sale, Transportation of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Additionally, Daniel Alvarado will be charged with Felony Flight and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. An immigration hold will also be placed on Jose Juan Cantu Millanes.
Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “These two individuals showed they have no respect for law enforcement and no regard for the safety of the public. They attempted to flee in a vehicle and when they thought they could get away on foot they tried. Little did they know our air unit was above them and directed deputies on the ground directly to them. The air unit has made a tremendous impact on public safety in Pinal County and the service our office can provide to the public.”