Rosa Cortez	Enemencio Delarosa	Robert Mendoza

A report of a suspicious vehicle being parked for over an hour in the parking lot of a business in the 500 block of W. Commerce in Brownwood Saturday morning led to the arrest of its three occupants on drug related charges.

Brownwood Police officer Walker Willey responded to the call at the car lot located at 500 W. Commerce  and made contact with the three occupants identified as:  25-year- old Robert Mendoza of San Angelo, 25-year- old Rosa Cortez of San Angelo, and 21-year-old Enemencio DeLaRosa of Mertzon.  The two men and the woman told the officer that they were returning to San Angelo from Dallas; however the police report states that their statements were inconsistent with each other and with observations made by the officer.   Given the suspicious circumstances surrounding this event, Investigator Stroope with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and arrived along with his K-9 partner Izzy.

The report states that an immediate alert was given by Izzy to the front seat area of the vehicle.  A subsequent inspection of the area in the vehicle revealed 2 sandwich bags of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, according to police.  This substance was tested and found to have a positive result.

Mendoza, Cortez, and DelaRosa were arrested and each charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Grade 1.  The methamphetamine seized is estimated to weigh over 1½ ounces.  All subjects denied knowing the methamphetamine was inside the vehicle according to Brownwood Assistant Chief James Fuller.

Brownwood Police Department officials said that they appreciate the continued support from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and from other surrounding agencies.

“Everyone did a good job, there was good cooperation between the agencies,” stated Brownwood Chief of Police Mike Corley.

More arrests are expected as this investigation continues.