Arizona authorities seize 1,382 pounds of pot, arrest 14 in five days

PHOENIX — In what turned out to be a busy five days for deputies, more than 1,300 pounds of pot was seized and 14 people were arrested in multiple incidents in Arizona’s Pinal County.

The busts began Nov. 29, when a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office deputy tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver, Guadalupe Acosta Gutierrez, allegedly sped off before ramming into some trees and attempting to run away. He was chased down and arrested.

Deputies said they found 20 bales of marijuana in Gutierrez’s vehicle.

The next day, deputies were contacted by U.S. Border Patrol to help them chase a possible smuggler. After the vehicle was abandoned by all but the driver, German Nunez-Mojarro, an estimated 500 pounds of marijuana was found inside.

On Dec. 2, a deputy was involved in a short chase with a vehicle on Highway 84, north of Interstate 8. After the car came to a stop, three people fled into the desert while three others were caught at the car.

Deputies found two assault-type rifles and what appeared to be survival supplies. The driver and the two other people were arrested.

Later that evening, deputies spotted a minivan driving down a highway with its door open. A deputy pulled the vehicle over and seven people ran into the desert. Four people, including the driver, were arrested after 502 pounds of marijuana was found in the vehicle.

On Dec. 3, a deputy pulled an SUV over and nine men wearing camouflage jumped out. Five of them were captured.

Later that day, a deputy saw two drivers driving erratically and both vehicles were pulled over. Six people fled the vehicles and, though none were caught, two bales of marijuana were seized.

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