Woman, in country illegally, faces jail, deportation (Porterville Recorder)

Woman, in country illegally, faces jail, deportation
Case: Suspect, already deported, arrested again.
August 28, 2008 - 1:13PM
By GLEN FAISON
THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER

A Porterville woman already deported from the country was arrested Wednesday on a felony drug warrant.

Detectives with the Porterville Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit were conducting a surveillance at about 7 p.m. Wednesday on deported felon Graciela Barrios, 49, in the 200 block of South Kessing Street.

Barrios was wanted for illegal drug trafficking, police report.

Detectives reportedly identified the suspect as Barrios and had obtained a felony arrest warrant for her arrest on suspicion of illegal drug sales.

During the surveillance, detectives reportedly saw Barrios leaving a home in the area. Detectives conducted a traffic stop and took her into custody.

Barrios allegedly gave a false name to the detectives, Sgt. Jake Castellow said in a prepared release. Her identity was confirmed by fingerprint comparisons during the booking process, Castellow reports.

She was booked into custody on the felony arrest warrant for alleged sales of a controlled substance and for allegedly providing a false name to a peace officer.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement was also contacted and issued an immigration hold.
Barrios was booked into the Tulare County Jail and is being held without bail.

Sgt. Larry Rodriguez today said police received a tip that Barrios was back in the community and put plans together to try to find her.

Police are continuing their investigation.

Barrios was arrested in March 2007 after police reportedly found what they suspected was methamphetamine packaged for sale, narcotics paraphernalia and $15,000 cash in a home in the 800 block of East Putnam Avenue.

At that time she was in the country illegally after having already been deported, police reported. She was originally deported based on another drug-related offense, police reported.

At that time immigration officials said Barrios would be deported again once she served any necessary time linked to the 2007 case.

-- Contact Glen Faison at 784-5000, Ext. 1040, or gfaison@portervillerecorder.com.