A routine traffic stop early Friday morning in Crystal City led to felony firearm and drug charges for a convicted felon, Zavala County Sheriff’s Office says.
ZAVALA COUNTY, Texas — A reckless driving call early Friday morning led Zavala County deputies to arrest a convicted felon and seize a firearm and prescription medication during a traffic stop.
According to the Zavala County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy J. Bonilla responded at approximately 6:45 a.m. on February 20 to reports of a dark-colored Ford Mustang driving recklessly from Dimmit County toward Crystal City. The vehicle was located on FM-65 and stopped near CJ’s Tire Shop.
When deputies made contact with the occupants, they observed an open alcoholic beverage in the center console, authorities said. A search of the vehicle revealed a .22 caliber revolver on the driver’s side floorboard, along with a quantity of Alprazolam and Hydrocodone pills.
The driver, identified as Samuel Scott Longoria, admitted to deputies that he is a convicted felon. A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper conducted a field sobriety test and determined Longoria was not intoxicated. After confirming his criminal history, deputies took him into custody.
Longoria is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a third-degree felony, and possession of dangerous drugs, a Class B misdemeanor.
The passenger, Ricardo Fernando Rios, was cited for an open container violation and released at the scene. The vehicle was towed by Garcia’s Wrecker Service, and Longoria was transported to the Zavala County Jail.
The sheriff’s office thanked Investigator F. Picazo and the Texas Department of Public Safety for assisting in the case. The investigation remains ongoing.