Deming, NM – A New Mexico State Police officer arrested a convicted felon during a traffic stop in Deming. The officer pulled over Arturo Arias, 32, on SR 11 for speeding. The vehicle, a gray Honda, had been reported stolen out of Riverside, California.
According to the New Mexico State Police, the officer discovered two firearms and suspected methamphetamines inside the car. Arias, a convicted felon, is prohibited from owning firearms. Police detained him after the search and he was taken to the Luna County Detention Center.
Arias now faces several charges, including receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, receipt or possession of firearms by a felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The New Mexico State Police continue to investigate the incident.
This arrest highlights the department’s ongoing effort to combat illegal drugs and gun possession in the region. State troopers regularly patrol major highways like SR 11 to intercept such activities.
