Two illegal aliens arrested for having no ID, cocaine

By Lesley Hughes
News Editor
lhughes@erwinrecord.net

Two illegal aliens were taken into custody Saturday night when they couldn’t provide identification and were in possession of cocaine.
Officers with the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Department were searching for a wanted person at a Rail Road Street residence when they found Gregorio E. Rodriguez, 32, of Harris Trailer Park in Erwin and Primitivo E. Rodriguez, 21, 400 Rail Road St., Erwin.

Gregorio Rodriguez was operating a motor vehicle and drinking a Bud Light beer, Sheriff Kent Harris said in his report. He was questioned about the wanted person who was reportedly at the residence. He refused search of the home, but a search warrant was issued. The defendant told Sgt, Mario Morales he had a pistol in the residence. When officers searched, they found a switchblade knife, a 6-inch knife, a clip to a pistol, box of ammo and three baggies of cocaine.

He was charged with possession of Schedule II for resale, violation of open container law, no drivers license and illegal possession of a weapon.

Primitivo Rodriguez drove up to the residence while the search warrant was being served and could not provide any identification when asked for it by K-9 Deputy Shane Hawkins.

He was charged with possession of Schedule II for resale, driving without a license and violation of the financial responsibility law.

Harris said these two men and 39 other illegal aliens have been arrested in Unicoi County since October 2007. The county is working to become certified by Immigration Customs Enforcement to have more control over holding illegal aliens until they can be deported. Many times, Harris said, the department can’t take someone into custody just because they are an illegal alien.
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