Valley Brook police find infant, cocaine during bust

BY VALLERY BROWN vbrown@opubco.com

Published: January 19, 2012

VALLEY BROOK — About $3,000 worth of cocaine and an infant were found when police arrested a couple believed to be en route to a strip bar to sell drugs.

Virginia Hernandez, 33, and Pedro Morales, 52, were arrested Jan. 7 on complaints of illegally distributing controlled substances, trafficking illegal drugs, committing a felony in the presence of a minor, and maintaining a vehicle where controlled substances are kept, a police spokeswoman said.

Both are being held in the Oklahoma County jail with bail set at $42,000.

Officers were tipped off about a possible drug deal in the area on Jan. 7. Hernandez and Morales were arrested during a traffic stop about 7 p.m. An infant was present in the vehicle along with 43 grams of cocaine. In addition, more than 6 grams of the drug was found after investigators searched the vehicle and found some stashed in various compartments, the spokeswoman said.

Hernandez was allowed to call a family member to take custody of the infant.

Acting Police Chief Michael Stamp said the arrests are in conjunction with efforts to rid the area of drugs and drug dealers.