May 16, 2025 – Madera County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on May 7, 2025, a Madera County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2019 Toyota Prius for an equipment violation in the city of Madera. During the stop, the deputy made several observations that led him to believe the occupants of the vehicle were involved in criminal activity.

Deputy Schoonmaker and his K9 partner Odin arrived on scene shortly after the stop to assist. K9 Odin searched the exterior of the Prius and gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics. Deputies searched the vehicle and located four ounces of methamphetamine in the glovebox.

49-year-old Luis Barriga and 29-year-old Amaris Castillo, both of Madera, were arrested and booked into the Madera County Jail for possession of a controlled substance for sale and transportation of a controlled substance for sale.

Sheriff Tyson Pogue states, “This arrest is a testament to the vigilance and professionalism of our deputies and K9 teams. We remain committed to aggressively targeting those who traffic illegal drugs in Madera County.”

Source & photo: Madera County Sheriff’s Office