Traffic stop leads to drug charges

Gargano
Gargano

A local man was arrested on felony charges Thursday afternoon following a routine traffic stop after drugs were allegedly found in his possession.

Joseph Gino Gargano, 22, who lists a Valleyview Street address, was taken into custody shortly after 2:30 p.m. and charged with possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years.

Gargano appeared via video in Garland County District Court Friday morning with his attorney, Josh Hurst, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Bond was set at $12,500 with a bond review hearing set for Sept. 21. A felony review to determine if the case should be bound over to Garland County Circuit Court is set for Oct. 9.

According to the affidavit, around 2:15 p.m., Garland County sheriff's Deputy John Youngblood made a traffic stop on a gold Chevrolet pickup truck that had an obstructed license plate because the tailgate was down and a trailer hitch was on the back bumper.

He stopped the vehicle on Airport Road at Stonewall Street and made contact with the driver, identified as Gargano, who was found to have an expired driver's license and the vehicle didn't return to him. Gargano reportedly gave consent for deputies to search the vehicle and they allegedly located a syringe, a small digital scale and a metal container containing small baggies with 19.4 grams of a white crystal-like substance.

Local on 09/09/2017

Upcoming Events