Adrian Garcia- Togaba
Duo of Drug Dealers Caught Minutes Apart, Armed and Dangerous: Police Reveal
In a surprising turn of events, two men were arrested within minutes of each other on Sunday morning in Maricopa, despite being on opposite sides of the city. Both incidents involved illegal firearms and a variety of narcotics.
Mark James Linnell Jr., 43, was the first to be apprehended. At 8:04 a.m., police found him unconscious behind the wheel of his Dodge Durango near Alterra Parkway and Gatun Avenue. Officers surrounded the vehicle and roused him from his stupor.
Upon being questioned, Linnell initially denied carrying weapons. However, when officers checked his identification, they discovered two outstanding warrants related to dangerous and narcotic drugs.
During a subsequent search, police uncovered numerous narcotics hidden in his cargo shorts, including 17 fentanyl pills, a gram of meth, and a meth pipe. Officers also found a stolen pistol and various forms of identification belonging to other individuals.
Linnell now faces multiple charges, including possession of dangerous drugs, narcotics for sale, and possessing a stolen firearm while on probation. The total potential prison time could extend to 74 years if convicted on all counts.
Just 26 minutes later, Adrian Garcia-Togaba, 30, caught the attention of a different officer as he walked from a Maricopa QuikTrip to his Chrysler 300. His nervous demeanor raised suspicions, prompting the officer to follow him.
After initiating a traffic stop due to a suspended registration, Garcia-Togaba’s anxiety became evident. He admitted to not having a valid driver’s license and denied possessing weapons.
Upon his arrest for driving without a license, police found a significant amount of illegal substances during a search. A backpack in his car contained 37 grams of cocaine, 48 grams of meth, and marijuana, along with a loaded Taurus handgun.
Garcia-Togaba is now facing serious charges as well, including possession of dangerous drugs and misconduct involving weapons. His potential prison time exceeds 48 years.
