ESTRADA
By CATHERINE DONNELLY
Special to the NEWS
PORT ISABEL, TX—One of three suspects apprehended and accused of an armed robbery here not only hails from San Benito, but was the subject of another recent arrest after law enforcement raided a Resaca City residence in November 2023.
According to Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz, on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit, with the assistance of the Hidalgo County HIDTA Unit and members of the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team executed a narcotics search warrant at 1701 W. Expressway 83 in San Benito.
Upon making entry into the residence, two male subjects were encountered and detained, stated the DA in a Facebook post. A search of the residence, Saenz noted, allegedly yielded $8,671.00 in U.S. currency, 18 bags of Marijuana with a total weight of 16 ounces, 119 THC Vape pens with a total weight of 238 grams, a 12 gauge shotgun and ammunition, including 12 gauge, 45 mm, and 9 mm.
The two individuals were placed under arrest and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Second Degree Felony and Possession of Marijuana, a State Jail Felony. The arrested individuals were identified as 17-year-old Nicolas Mendoza and 17-year-old Edward Estrada of San Benito.
Both Mendoza and Estrada were transported to the Cameron County Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito where they were being held pending arraignment, the DA noted in his post.
That wasn’t the last time law enforcement encountered Estrada, however. In Port Isabel earlier this week, three suspects of an alleged armed robbery were apprehended.
According to a Port Isabel Police Department (PIPD) report, on Monday, at approximately 2:24 a.m., Port Isabel Police received a 911 call from a reported victim of an alleged robbery by gunpoint. Responding to the call was PIPD Sergeant Jose Salinas who was immediately dispatched to the 1000 block of Texas State Highway 100, near Champion Avenue, according to the report.
While the reported victim was providing his statement to police, he reportedly spotted the car believed to be occupied by the suspects passing through the area. Officers pursued the car and conducted a stop without incident, according to PIPD Chief of Police Robert Lopez.
The three occupants of the vehicle were arrested and the more than $600 in cash, which matched the amount allegedly taken from the complainant, was recovered as evidence, according to Lopez. The weapon allegedly used in the robbery has not been located, Lopez added.
Rey Quiroz and Adam Gritzner of Harlingen were arrested and charged with Aggravated Robbery and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, as was Estrada, who is being charged as an adult, Lopez said. All three were booked into the Cameron County Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito. They’re being held on $57,500 bail each for the combined charges.
Police are asking the public’s assistance in locating the weapon used in the alleged robbery. In Port Isabel, tips regarding this crime, or any other suspicious or criminal activity, can be reported to the PIPD at (956) 943-2727 or (956) 943-1242, or to Cameron County Crime Stoppers, Inc., 1225 North Expressway, Suite C1-94, Brownsville; tip line: (956) 350-5551, main line: (956) 554-6700. Cameron County Crime Stoppers’ website is www.cameroncountycrimestoppers.org.
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