Routine Traffic Stop Results In Meth Bust, 2 Arrested: Police

LA PORTE, TX —Two men are behind bars after they were caught transporting more than 17 grams of methamphetamine. La Porte Police were conducting a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 100 block of North 4th St. on Oct. 26, police said.

While the officer was speaking with the driver and passenger, he determined there was probable cause to search the car. An K9 was brought to the scene to search the car and quickly found more than 1.7 grams of methamphetamine that belonged to the driver, identified as 36-year-old Lonnie Ambrose Bugaj.

The passenger, who was identified as 36-year-old Chad Joseph Galik of Houston, also had a small amount of methamphetamine with him, police said.

During the search of the vehicle, the K9 Officer also found a locked safe. The Officer’s K9 alerted to the safe indicating the contents may contain narcotics.

During the traffic stop, police called the Harris County District Attorney’s Office who accepted the charge of possession of a controlled substance a third degree felony on Lonnie Bugaj.

Chad Galik was charged with a State Jail Felony, possession of a controlled substance, less than a gram of methamphetamine.

Meanwhile, police seized the safe and were able to get a search warrant to open the safe. Police open the same and found an additional 16 grams crystal methamphetamine was seized along with drug paraphernalia and other items.

Both men were taken to the La Porte Jail for processing and later transferred to the Harris County Jail where they are currently being held after failing to post bonds. Bugaj has a bond of $20,000, and Galik has a $5000 bond.

With the additional seizure of 16 grams of methamphetamine, the LPPD Street Crimes Division has contacted the HCDAO requesting Lonnie Bugaj’s charge be upgraded to PCS Penalty Group 1, methamphetamine with the intent to deliver, a first-degree felony.

The Texas Penal Code states, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the first degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 5 years.

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Image: La Porte Police

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