Traffic Stop Yields More Than 100 Grams Of Meth

Eugene, Or. - At around 8:30 p.m. on February 6 a Eugene Police patrol officer was at West 6th Avenue and Garfield Street. A recruit officer and his field training officer saw a bicyclist riding the wrong way on the road and without proper lights and this presented a safety issue for him and other travelers. 

The recruit officer stopped him, but the bicyclist gave a false name initially. Subsequently the bicyclist provided his real name as Christopher Alan Tafoya, age 48. Officers discovered he had a confirmed Grand Theft warrant out of California and arrested him.

During the investigation and arrest, officers located more than 100 grams of suspected methamphetamine inside Tafoya’s backpack that later also tested positive for fentanyl. This stop by the recruit and the training officer was discretionary and highlights how as new officers are hired and trained the opportunities for proactive policing increase.   

Tafoya began to lose consciousness and advised he had swallowed drugs. The officers quickly responded and took him to a local hospital. Once Tafoya was medically cleared, he lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges including Fugitive From Justice, Possession of Methamphetamine 2 Grams or more, and False Info to a Police Officer.

Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit arrived and is following the case with further investigation.

Case 24-01843

Information from EPD

Sponsored by: Preston’s Painting LLC    *023

Please help keep independent journalism alive with a donation to my Venmo: @Michael-Weber-379