By Alicia A. Caldwell
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 9, 1997

Police Beat

University police arrested a 23-year-old Tucson man on drug charges Thursday after officers stopped his car for a traffic violation.

Officers saw the 1989 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Israel Saldivar, address unknown, pull through a red light just after 9 p.m. going west on East Speedway Boulevard at North Campbell Avenue, police reports stated.

Officers followed Saldivar until he stopped at North Cherry Avenue.

According to police reports, there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle as officers spoke to Saldivar.

He told officers he had not been drinking, police reports stated. Saldivar also told officers the car belonged to a friend but did not know that person's name.

He later gave the name of the owner to officers. Attempts to contact that person were unsuccessful.

Officers called for backup on the possibility that the car had been stolen, police reports stated.

Officers asked Saldivar to exit the car and found a bag of suspected marijuana in his pants pocket, police reports stated. They also found a $20 bill with a small amount of a "white powdery substance" suspected to be cocaine, police reports stated.

Saldivar reportedly told officers he bought the substance from a friend for $20 and was given the suspected marijuana by another friend.

Officers cited the driver of the running the red light, police reports stated.

Saldivar was charged with possession of narcotics and taken to Pima County Jail.

An 18-year-old Tucson man was arrested on drug charges Sunday after university police stopped him for a traffic violation.

Joshua Wilcox of the 4700 block of West Dedion was seen making an unsafe lane change and following too close near the intersection of East Speedway Boulevard and North Mountain Avenue at 1:45 a.m., police reports stated.

Officers stopped the 1996 Pontiac Grand Am Wilcox was driving. He told them he had been in a hurry to get home.

According to police reports, Wilcox looked nervous and was hesitant to speak to them.

Officers asked if they need to know about anything in the car and Wilcox said, "Nah, I'm clean, check it if you want," police reports stated.

They reportedly found a clear plastic tube with residue of suspected cocaine on the inside, police reports stated.

Officers also found a glass container with a "white powdery substance" suspected to be cocaine, police reports stated.

Wilcox told officers the car was his mother's and he did not know about the container, police reports stated.

The passenger in the car reportedly told officers Wilcox had picked him up and he did not know anything about the cocaine.

The substance was tested at UAPD headquarters and determined to be cocaine, police reports stated.

Wilcox was charged with possession of cocaine and taken to Pima County Jail.

University police arrested a 20-year-old student on liquor charges Saturday after he was involved in a traffic accident.

Officers responded to the accident and were told Scott Chirco of the 1300 block of East First Street hit a truck traveling south on North Euclid Avenue in his 1997 Ford Mustang at 11:10 p.m., police reports stated.

The driver of the truck reportedly told officers Chirco made a quick turn south onto Euclid from East Speedway Boulevard and hit the left-rear of his truck.

According to police reports, officers smelled a strong scent of alcohol coming from Chirco while speaking with him.

He told officers, "I had one saki," police reports stated.

Chirco was taken to Tucson Police Department, 2223 E. Speedway Blvd., and given an Intoxilyzer test, which registered blood alcohol concentrations of 0.128 and 0.122. 0.10 is considered drunk, police reports stated.

Chirco was cited for drunken driving, DUI with a BAC of 0.10 or higher and being a minor operating a vehicle with alcohol in his system, police reports stated.

He was released to ABC Cab Company.

A male student called university police Saturday after finding his Ultimax mountain bike missing from the Main Library, 1510 E. University Blvd.

He reportedly secured his bike with a U-lock Friday at 10 p.m. When he returned at 4 p.m. Saturday, the bike and lock were missing, police reports stated.

The items were valued at $270.

Police Beat is compiled from official University of Arizona Police Department reports.