By Jesse Bogan
San Antonio Express-News
McALLEN- A Hidalgo County patrol deputy resigned a few days after police in Georgia stopped him for a traffic violation and found nearly $1 million in cash hidden inside a duffle bag and the doors of a 2006 dually pickup he was driving.
Asked about the Jan. 6 incident, Sheriff Lupe Treviño, desensitized by corruption in the Valley, said it’s a moot point because Emmanuel Sanchez quit Wednesday and no longer works under him.
What has been the response at the department?
“Not much at all,” Treviño said. “Of course, I don’t -- at my level and with as many employees -- have direct contact with the deputies. Through my contact, there hasn’t been much said about it.”
Police in Georgia released deputy Sanchez, who worked for the county three years and was off duty at the time, with a warning for the traffic violation and a receipt for $950,435. Should he claim the cash, he will have to prove in court that he legally obtained it.
Sanchez, 30, could not be reached for comment.
Georgia State Police spokesman Larry Schnall said troopers pulled Sanchez and another passenger over about 40 miles west of Atlanta on Interstate 20.
When he was stopped, Sanchez initially showed them his peace officer’s badge and then gave authorities permission to search the truck.
But, Schnall said, Sanchez became “combative” when the duffle bag was found in the back seat and he recanted his permission to continue the search. Troopers brought in a police dog that soon alerted them to the doors, which Schnall said gave troopers probable cause to continue the search.
“It’s highly unusual for a person to be transporting nearly $1million hidden in the doors of a truck,” Schnall said.
Sheriff Treviño said if the Georgia investigation reveals anything that needs to be addressed locally, his department will follow up, but no plans are in the works to launch an investigation.
“If he is indicted ... he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and to include anyone else who conspired with him,” Treviño said.
The Sheriff’s Department has 731 employees, including 307 jailers and 288 sworn officers and 136 civilian officers.
In August, Louisiana State Police found about 65 pounds of cocaine in a vehicle occupied by 25-year-old Hidalgo County jailer Pedro Luis Longoria and Jo Ann Lopez, a county Head Start employee, according to KGBT Channel 4 in Harlingen.
“It’s very disappointing when a policeman goes wrong, (but) it happens on all levels ... federal agents ... state troopers, county, city police. We have them in all ranks,” Treviño said. “We have good reporters, we have bad reporters. It’s in all professions.”
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