On June 30, 2015, at approximately 7:45 PM, a Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office K9 deputy stopped a white 2006 Nissan sedan for equipment and moving violations on north I17 near Rimrock. The on scene investigation resulted in the arrest of 27-year-old Jessie Gutierrez from New Mexico, 33-year-old Robert Gorman from New Mexico, 27-year-old Alyssa Martinez from New Mexico, and 25-year-old Danica Trujillo from Arizona.
All 4 were booked at the Camp Verde Detention Center and charged with various crimes including Possession/Transportation of Dangerous drug for Sale, Misconduct Involving Weapons, Misconduct Involving Body Armor, Possession / Use of a Narcotic Drug, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. All suspects remain in-custody with Gutierrez on a $52,500 bond, and Gorman, Martinez, and Trujillo, each on a $50,000 bond.
When deputies spoke with the driver, Danica Trujillo, outside the vehicle she explained the group was heading home to New Mexico. During the conversation, Trujillo exhibited abnormal nervousness and had a hard time identifying her passengers. She claimed “Jessie” was the vehicle owner. During a records check, deputies found Trujillo had a drug possession warrant out of New Mexico.
When Jessie Gutierrez, the front seat passenger, was asked for the vehicle registration, he pretended to be asleep. A fellow passenger “woke” him and he claimed not to have the ownership paperwork. He then acted as though he was going back to sleep. When the deputy directed him to exit the vehicle, Gutierrez refused and began digging around his seat. Sensing he might be reaching for a weapon, the occupants were held at gunpoint and eventually removed with the assistance of additional deputies. During a conversation with Gutierrez, deputies believed he was under the influence of heroin. When rear seat passenger Martinez exited the car, deputies spotted a syringe containing apparent heroin residue on her seat. The final passenger, Gorman, exited and admitted to having several syringes in the vehicle.
During a search of the vehicle for additional contraband, deputies found a loaded 9mm handgun stuffed between a seat and the front console. In the front console itself, deputies located a bag of marijuana, and a container of heroin. In the rear passenger compartment, deputies recovered a baggie of meth, a syringe with meth residue and a meth pipe.
In the trunk of the Nissan, deputies discovered 5 more firearms including a loaded shotgun, 2 semi-auto rifles, a handgun, and a ‘sawed-off’ rifle along with nearly 1000 rounds of associated ammunition for these firearms. Deputies also located a bullet proof vest and over ½ pound of meth along with numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
During pre-booking involving Martinez, deputies found a usable quantity of heroin in one of her socks and a bindle with heroin residue and a rubber tourniquet in her front pocket. In Trujillo’s waistband, deputies found a syringe containing heroin.
The investigation into activities related to the suspects and seized contraband is ongoing.