$200,000 in drugs seized, two arrested in West Covina

WEST COVINA -- Police arrested two men and seized 13 pounds of methamphetamine and one kilogram of cocaine Friday following a chase and crash, authorities said.

The street value of the drugs was estimated at over $200,000.

Rafael Flores, 29, and Ramon Munoz, 33, both of Los Angeles, were booked on suspicion of transportation of narcotics, possession of narcotics for sales and resisting arrest, West Covina police Lt. Marty Sevilla said. Flores was also booked on suspicion of evading police.

An officer tried to pull over a Chevrolet Trailblazer being driven by Flores for following too closely shortly after 6 p.m. on the westbound 10 Freeway, just west of Puente Avenue, the lieutenant said.

Flores, with Munoz in the passenger seat, drove recklessly and blew through red lights as he led police on a chase, Sevilla said.

The Trailblazer collided with two other cars, causing minor damage and no injuries, at West Covina Parkway and Sunset Avenue, officials said.

Flores and Munoz fled on foot before being chased down and arrested, Sevilla said. Officers used a Taser to subdue Munoz.

Police found one pound of high-potency methamphetamine under the passenger's seat of the Trailblazer, he said, as well as 12 more individually packaged pounds of the drug and a one-kilogram bundle of cocaine in the rear cargo area.

According to sheriff's booking records, Flores and Munoz were being held in lieu of $250,000 bail each and were due for arraignment Tuesday in West Covina Superior Court.

Friday's bust was the second time in just over two months that a routine traffic stop has led to a massive seizure of methamphetamine for West Covina police.

A police officer pulled over a 44-year-old Samuel Lizarraga for expired registration tags on Oct. 2 and discovered three pounds of methamphetamine inside his car, Lt. Alan Henley said at the time.

Officials then searched his home in La Puente and discovered another 12.5 pounds of methamphetamine, police said.

Lizarraga is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail as he awaits trial on drug charges.