Illegible license plate leads to felony arrest

A man with a warrant out of Texas is now in the Roosevelt County Detention Center after a routine traffic stop Friday.

Court records show Christopher Vega, 37, was originally pulled over by a Portales Police Officer Galen Dorning early Friday morning because his New Mexico license plate was not easy to read.

Vega was driving east on East Spruce Street when Dorning pursued Vega for the license plate problem.

Court records detailed Vega stopped and Dorning radioed Vega’s information to dispatch. A dispatcher radioed back that Vega had an active warrant out of Texas for a parole violation. Vega was arrested, and in a subsequent search of Vega and his vehicle Dorning found a clear bag with a white crystal substance in it in Vega’s pants pocket.

When Dorning asked Vega what it was, Vega said, “Dope.”

The substance later tested positive as methamphetamine.

Vega remained in the Roosevelt County Detention Center as of Monday morning according to court records. In addition to being held on the Texas warrant, Vega is charged with possession of a controlled substance, a fourth degree felony.