PD: Woman arrested for PI hid coke in bra

By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

Monica Lemus

A San Benito woman arrested along with her husband on Tuesday faces a charge of possession of a controlled substance after police allegedly found cocaine inside her bra.

It all started on April 23 when police officers responded to the 200 block of Diaz Street in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, the officers made contact with the homeowner who stated that an altercation between herself and 30-year-old Monica Lemus had occurred regarding an incident that took place in 2007 – the nature of which, however, authorities did not disclose.

“It was an incident that happened between the two at another party,” said Detective Rogelio Banda Jr. of the San Benito Police Department. “It was a past incident, but it doesn’t seem to be relevant. It’s just something that they may have touched base on and sparked another altercation.”

According to an SBPD news release, Lemus and her husband, a man identified as Jose Manuel Garcia but whose age was not available as of presstime, were asked to leave the homeowners’ residence when the verbal altercation reportedly turned physical. Both women had to be separated by other people at the house, the release read.

Police said that officers made contact with the couple outside the house on a curb and believed that both were intoxicated. Lemus and Garcia were then placed under arrest for public intoxication and transported to city jail.

During the booking process, police reported that a female officer conducted a pat down on Lemus and allegedly discovered a clear plastic baggie with approximately .4 grams of a white powdery substance, which later tested positive for cocaine, hidden inside her bra around the “lower right breast area.”

“Once they were under arrest, an officer did a search of the female,” said Banda. “That’s when she (police officer) discovered the contraband. It was a small baggie with 0.4 grams of a powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine.”

Garcia was charged with public intoxication and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement due to an immigration detainer.

Lemus was discovered to have several outstanding local warrants as well as an extended criminal history including possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, driving while intoxicated and assault, Banda said. She was arraigned by Municipal Court Judge Benjamin Yudesis and her bond was set at $10,000; Lemus also faces a $279 fine.