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| Kevin Royce Peek | James Kirby Peek |
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| Hector Gonzalez, Jr. | Gongora Joel Matthew |
Early Police Chief David Mercer reported that a traffic stop for an expired inspection sticker led to the arrest of four men from Brownwood on drug charges Wednesday evening.
Early Police officers Stephanie Haile and Sgt. Shawn Dibrell stopped the vehicle in the 1000 block of Early Blvd. According to Mercer, as the officers approached the vehicle, they observed the driver trying to hide something and noticed an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle as they got closer. The three occupants were removed from the vehicle and questioned.
The driver was identified as 43-year-old Kevin Royce Peek and the two passengers were identified as 22-year-old Hector Gonzales, Jr. and 38-year-old James Kirby Peek. Further investigation led to the discovery of marijuana in James Peek’s pockets and a pipe used for smoking methamphetamine was found in Hector Gonzales’s sock, Mercer said. Further investigation led to the discovery of a small quantity of methamphetamines packaged for sale.
Mercer stated that all three men were detained and questioned regarding the sale of the methamphetamine. Officers discovered during the questioning that an individual was waiting to buy the methamphetamine and was to be at the back side of Heartland Mall to purchase 4 grams of the substance at a certain time, the report states.
According to Mercer, the buyer, 36-year-old Joel Matthew Gongora, arrived at approximately 6:00pm and walked over to the vehicle he was supposed to meet. The buy was made and officers approached the vehicle in order to make the arrest. Officers reported that Gongora ran to his vehicle (a pickup truck which was pulling a trailer) while Officer Stephanie Haile attempted to stop him and ordered him out of the vehicle. While trying to get him out, Gongora fled in his vehicle knocking Officer Haile to the ground and narrowly missing running over her, Mercer reported. Officer Haile suffered only scrapes and bruises according to Mercer.
Officers then gave pursuit of the vehicle around the mall parking lot then out onto Hwy 183N. While going around the parking lot, Gongora began throwing out some baggies which were later recovered when officers retraced the path of their pursuit. Gongora pulled over approximately 2 miles north of the mall on Hwy 183N. Methamphetamines were located in the seat and floor where Gongora attempted to open a package and it spilled and blew into his vehicle. Gongora was arrested and taken to the Brown County Jail where he was booked in on charges of Tampering with Evidence, Evading Arrest, Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant, and Manufacture and Delivery of Controlled Substance.
Kevin Royce Peek was arrested on charges of Possession of Marijuana and Manufacture and Delivery of Controlled Substance. Hector Gonzales, Jr. and James Kirby Peek were arrested for Manufacture and Delivery of Controlled Substance. Mercer also reported that two of the men arrested had recently gotten out of prison.
Mercer praised the work and cooperation of the officers involved.
“I would like to commend a fine group of officers for an outstanding job,” said Mercer. “Throughout the whole incident the public’s safety was constantly being considered and watched out for, while apprehending 4 individuals who were bringing methamphetamines into Brown County. Early has a fine group of Officers they can be very proud of.”
