GRANTS - The area's Narcotic Task Force is in the third of four phases of an ongoing operation. Det. John Castaneda of the Grants Police Department said, “We called it 'Operation Wolf Pack' because of the collaboration it's taken to get the project done.”

Velvet Armijo, top left, sits handcuffed at her doorway as police officers search her apartment and car last week. BEACON / JARAMILLO

The operation is four phases, Castaneda said. One through three have been completed, resulting in three arrests.

In the morning of Thursday, Sept. 3, police arrested Ramone Martinez after a short chase that ended on Sakelares Boulevard. Castaneda said that officer Jason Fank was aware there was a warrant for Martinez's arrest and the agency had received Crimestopper tips that Martinez was “carrying drugs” with him. Fank saw Martinez on Roosevelt Avenue headed east so he turned around, Martinez sped up and a pursuit ensued. Martinez's truck got stuck in mud near Sakelares Boulevard so he left the truck and started to run, only for Fank and Detectives Castaneda and Kevin Dobbs to catch him after a short foot chase. According to the report, before police were able to arrest him Martinez emptied his pockets as he threw items on the ground. Afterward, Fank found four syringes on the ground where Martinez was standing.

Also found on Martinez, according to the report, was a white bottle with heroin inside of it. Martinez is being held on a $25,000 bond.

Later that afternoon, because a search warrant had already obtained, police stopped and ultimately arrested Peter Griego at the corner of Cordova and Franciscan Streets, according to reports.

Police found four clear plastic bags in a hide-a-key box that was tested to have a methamphetamine presence. Griego was arrested without incident. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.

Late that same evening at approximately 8 p.m., again because a search warrant had already been obtained for an apartment at 1049 Bonita, New West Apartments, police made a surprise visit to Velvet Armijo's place of living. Other persons were there besides Armijo, including her six-year-old child.

According to the report, police found glass pipes and several bags with residue of a crystal-like substance.

All items thought to be related to illegal drug use are not absolute until tested in a lab, according to Castaneda. The fourth phase of 'Operation Wolf Pack' has not yet complete. Look in the Beacon for results soon.

“The Task Force is working to clean the streets and we want the illegal buyers and sellers to know we are here,” Castaneda said.

All three subjects have a preliminary hearing on Sept. 15.

The charges on

each subject are:

• Ramone Martinez, DOB March 13, 1967, Gallup - four counts; aggravated fleeing from police, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Peter Griego, DOB Nov. 12, 1966, Grants - one count, trafficking.

• Velvet Armijo, DOB Nov. 20, 1974, Grants - three counts; child abuse, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.