2 arrested on gun, drug charges after manhunt

Excerpt

Police arrested two men and seized drugs and a firearm after a brief manhunt during which officers closed off a block near Interstate 27 and South Washington Street, Amarillo Police Department said i…

Police arrested two men and seized drugs and a firearm after a brief manhunt during which officers closed off a block near Interstate 27 and South Washington Street, Amarillo Police Department said in a news release issued Friday.

About 2:30 p.m. Thursday, an Amarillo motorcycle officer smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from a white Lincoln MKX he had stopped in the 1000 block of Southwest 38th Avenue, police said.

The officer asked the driver, later identified as Joseph Francis Samora, 24, of Amarillo, to step out of the car.

As he exited, the officer noticed marijuana in the center console, police said.

The officer handcuffed Samora and told him to stand behind the car while he spoke with the passenger, Domonic Perales, 32, of Amarillo.

As the officer questioned Perales through the driver's side window, he bolted out of the passenger side and ran north down an alley toward I-27.

The motorcycle officer stayed with Samora and radioed for backup while letting them know where Perales was running.

He dropped at least two bags of drugs as he ran, police said.

As more officers arrived, police set up a perimeter and closed down roads from South Washington Street to South Hayden Street and from I-27 to Southwest 38th Avenue.

SWAT officers on other business in the area showed up to help as motorcycle units and police vehicles swarmed the area.

At one point, a woman living in the 3700 block of South Hughes Street told police there was a man in her back yard. Officers began searching the street house-by-house until they reached the woman's residence where officers warned Perales they were about to unleash a police German shepherd in the home.

Generally, officers give three warnings before releasing the dog, Lt. Gary Trupe said, to give the person a chance to surrender.

After the third warning, Perales called out to police, Trupe said.

Officers led Perales out the front door at gunpoint and he was taken into custody.

Police found a "large" bag of marijuana under the Lincoln's center console, a bag of methamphetamine discarded in the alley, other small bags near the car, and a gun hidden under the car's rear tire.

A review of the motorcycle officer's onboard camera showed Samora taking the .380 semi-automatic pistol from his waistband and kicking it under the car while the officer's attention was focused on Perales, police said.

Police booked both men into Randall County jail. Samora faces charges of possession of marijuana, less than 2 ounces and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, police said. Perales was booked on possession of a controlled substance, more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams; evading arrest or detention; possession of marijuana, more than 2 ounces but less than 4 ounces; and possession of drug paraphernalia.