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Calif. traffic stop leads cops to cash, meth

The Eureka Times-Standard

A traffic stop on Friday night led Eureka police to methamphetamine and resulted in the arrests of three men.

An officer initiated a traffic enforcement stop at about 10 p.m. on a gray 2003 Chrysler Sebring, whose driver yielded near Harris and L streets. The officer contacted the driver and two adult male passengers, who were subsequently identified as Florencio Hernandez Hernandez, 23, of Hidalgo, Mexico; Eduardo Mauricio Santos Gayosso, 19 of Hidalgo, Mexico; and Anthony Valandingham Pratt, 28, of Eureka.

A Eureka Police Department press release said that record checks confirmed the driver, Hernandez, was unlicensed, and Pratt was on felony searchable probation.

Santos-Gayosso claimed to have no form of identification to show the officer. During a subsequent pat-search for weapons, the officer located a large quantity of cash and four plastic baggies containing a total of approximately 4 ounces of crystal methamphetamine, the release states. Santos-Gayosso was arrested on suspicion of possession and transportation of a controlled substance for sale. Cash totaling $3,503 was seized as suspected drug sales proceeds, the EPD said.

Officers reported that during a search of Pratt, they located a single small baggy containing approximately 2 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

Hernandez was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County jail, where he was booked on suspicion of driving while unlicensed and transportation of a controlled substance.

Santos-Gayosso was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County jail, where he was booked on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale and transportation of a controlled substance.

Pratt was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and probation violation.

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