NEW CANEY- Montgomery County Pct. 4 Motorists Assistance Patrol Deputy Eli Rivera was just starting his shift around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, when the driver of a 1993 Nissan Altima allegedly failed to yield the right of way on Legion Rd., forcing Rivera to slam on his brakes and swerve to avoid a collision.
The traffic violation will probably result in prison time, not because of inattentive driving, but because of what Rivera found inside the vehicle.
Rivera initiated a traffic stop and noticed 40-year-old Robert Lozano, whose address is listed as 3878 E. Highline in the Grangerland area, seemed nervous when asked for his license and insurance. Turns out, Lozano’s license was suspended, and he had no insurance on the vehicle, so Rivera called for a wrecker to impound the vehicle. The practice is part of Pct. 4 Constable Rowdy Hayden’s “No license. No insurance. No way.” policy.
Once Lozano was out of the car, Rivera followed standard procedure by asking him if there was anything illegal, such as drugs or weapons, in the vehicle. Lozano did not answer and when Rivera looked inside the car, the reason became obvious.
The deputy first found a marijuana pipe in the driver’s side door, with a green leafy substance inside. A further search yielded a sandwich bag with marijuana inside, a small plastic bag containing 20 Hydrocodone pills, and a hollowed out candle containing a substance that tested positive for crystal methamphetamine, and weighed 28 grams, or 1 ounce (without the plastic bag).
Lozano is charged with first-degree felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) with intent to deliver; class B misdemeanor possession of marijuana; and class A misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.
Lozano was arrested without incident and transported the short distance to the Pct. 4 office, where he told deputies he was employed by an East Montgomery County business, with a union job paying $20 per hour. He said he pays around $1,400 for an ounce of crystal meth, then breaks it up and sells it to support his own habit.
Lozano should feel right at home in jail or prison, with multiple visits, due to a laundry list of prior convictions including possession of marijuana; possession of a controlled substance; burglary; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; burglary of a motor vehicle; aggravated assault; driving while intoxicated (twice); failure to stop and give information; and driving while license suspended or invalid.
Hayden, who stopped by the office while Lozano awaited transfer to Conroe, reiterated that he and his officers will do whatever it takes to keep drugs off of the streets of Pct. 4.
