October 17, 2019 – A 31-year-old Caddo Mills man was arrested at 1:20 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, for tampering with evidence, found in Dr. Pepper cans, according to arrest reports.
Josue Joshue Espinoza was reportedly stopped by a Hopkins County sheriff’s deputy, who noticed the Ford Mustang that passed him on Loop 301 about 12:52 a.m. Oct. 17 didn’t have front license plate. The deputies turned around and tried to stop the man on West Industrial Drive. The car pulled into Motel 6 before stopping.
On initial contact, the man reportedly exhibited signs of nervousness and was asked to step out of the vehicle. A search yielded two 12-ounce Dr. Pepper cans in the cupholders in the console, according to arrest reports. Both were reportedly nearly empty, although one had a cylindrical tube with white residue on it and the other had an object the deputy reported he could feel moving inside of it. He was detained in hand restraints while officers investigated further.
The liquid in both cans was tested but reportedly showed negative for controlled substances. A closer look at the items in the cans showed each had a white residue on it, the officers noted in arrest reports. Deputies reportedly used a “NIK wipe” to swap the can to test for cocaine; it allegedly had a positive result. Consequently, Josue Joshua Espinoza was taken into custody and the car was impounded.
Upon arrival at the jail, the man refused to answer the arresting deputy’s questions and was booked for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, according to arrest reports. He remained in the county jail at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, according to jail reports.
