So, it's at least a couple pounds of meth and ballpark I don't know, close to 50,000 pills, maybe. Oh, this is a package I found. I haven't stripped the car yet. This is full, too. Woo! >> Like and subscribe. On September 17th, 2022, a K9 deputy with the Navajo County Sheriff's Office made what appeared to be a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 Eastbound near Holbrook, Arizona. Interstate 40 is one of the busiest transportation corridors in the American Southwest, carrying thousands of vehicles through Arizona every day. That morning, Deputy Ostertag noticed a gray 2005 Volkswagen Jetta traveling Eastbound with a cracked windshield and an air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror. Those traffic violations gave him a legal reason to initiate a stop. >> Good morning, Deputy Ostertag, Navajo County Sheriff's Office. Couple reasons for the stop today, okay, man? One's going to be your cracked windshield. Got to get your windshield fixed, okay? Second thing is a view obstruction. Can't have anything hanging from the rearview mirror. Just take it down at the end of the stop, okay? I'm going to give you a ticket. It's going to be a warning today. Got your driver's license handy? All right. Do you have any identification on you, sir? So, this is this for him? Or is yours? Two identifications? That's a hotel All right, I'll tell you what, man. You got registration for the vehicle? I'll see that. All right. >> As he approached the vehicle, nothing immediately stood out. Inside were two men. The driver was the registered owner of the vehicle and a resident of Phoenix, Arizona. The passenger spoke only Spanish and did not have identification with him. At first, the encounter seemed straightforward. Deputy Austertag informed the driver that he would only be receiving a warning and invited him back to the patrol vehicle while he completed the paperwork. >> I'll tell you what, what's have him keep looking for it? I'm going to have you step out and come back with me. I'm going to get your warning started and then we can get you on your way a little quicker, okay? So, just tell him to keep looking for it. Uh I'm not doubt we didn't leave it if it's back here, okay? Don't worry about it. Go ahead and step out for me. All right, so I'm going to need this back in a second cuz I got to run it, but We're right here, man. I just want you standing in between in case someone rear ends me, you know what I mean? Like I said, just a warning, no ticket, no points, no fines, okay? >> That was when the conversation began to draw attention. When asked where he was headed, the driver explained that he was driving all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico simply to drop off the passenger before immediately turning around and driving back to Phoenix. For many officers, unusual travel plans can become an important part of the overall picture during a traffic stop. >> Where you headed? >> New Mexico. >> Oh, nice. >> I'm going to drop him off at my place. He works over there. >> Sweet. What part of New Mexico? >> Albuquerque. It's right on the 25. >> Got you. All right, you got it. >> No. >> Okay. Can I see your driver's license again? And what's his name? >> As the conversation continued, additional details began to emerge. When asked about the passenger, the driver provided a last name that did not match the information later provided by the passenger himself. >> Armando. >> Armando? Do you know his last name? Armando? >> Armando. A r m a n d o >> Oh, Armando. Okay. >> There we go. Yeah. >> Do you know his last name? >> Martinez. >> Martinez. You still at the 1016 North 59th? >> Yep, sir. >> Then the conversation shifted in an unexpected direction. The driver began asking questions about Deputy Austertag's patrol vehicle. Moments later, he specifically asked about Dodge Durangos, the vehicles commonly used by Arizona State Troopers. >> What do you guys run on the gears? Is it just a Hemi? >> Yes, it's a Scat Pack. >> It's a Scat Pack, huh? Yeah. Cuz I seen them take off. What about the Durangos? >> Uh >> Is it the same thing? >> So, that's the State Troopers. They run those. I don't know what they have in them. I work for the county. >> All righty. All righty. >> So, are you going to stay out in Albuquerque, or are you going to just turn around? >> I'm going to drop him off and turn around real quick. >> Dang, man. That's a long drive. What time did you guys leave out this morning? >> We were We stayed over here uh Flagstaff. >> Oh, you stayed in Flagstaff? >> Yeah, we stayed at a hotel in Flagstaff. We just left this morning. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, when did you guys leave? Are you coming out of Phoenix, or did you come from somewhere else? >> Yeah, I come out of Phoenix. >> Okay. >> I think we're from demolition, I think. >> Okay, I got you. Do you know what year that car is? >> 06. >> 06. >> 06, yeah. >> And you It's your car? >> Yeah, it's my car. It's under my name, too. >> When asked if the vehicle belonged to him, the driver responded, "Yeah, it's my car. It's under my name." Deputy Austertag later noted the phrasing as unusual given the overall context of the encounter. At that point, based on several observations made during the stop, Deputy Austertag requested consent to search the vehicle. The driver agreed. Through translation, the passenger agreed as well. With consent obtained, the search began. >> So, I'm going to go see if he found that registration, and I'll be right back. You can hang out here, man. >> I'm going to sit. You got the registration uh paperwork? Passenger had no luggage in the vehicle. So, passenger drove the vehicle to Flagstaff. He has one So, him up to Flagstaff. Receipt from Lowe's in Joseph City. >> As Deputy Ostertag worked through the vehicle, he eventually reached the trunk. There, he immediately noticed something that did not look right. The spare tire was not sitting inside its normal compartment. Instead, it was resting on top of the trunk floor. When he checked the area more closely, the setup appeared unusual. >> So, you're both under arrest. Cuz you got a bunch of drugs in your vehicle. Yeah, one second. Hey, no. >> He lifted the trunk floor and discovered containers hidden beneath it. Inside were silver wrapped packages and bags filled with blue M-30 pills, which is commonly how fentanyl pills are produced to imitate oxycodone pills. At that point, what had started as a simple traffic warning had become something entirely different. As additional searches continued, more suspected narcotics were located. >> Okay. >> Can I just see what else you have? >> You I'm there. >> So, it's at least a couple pounds of meth ballpark I don't know, close to 50,000 pills, maybe. >> Oh, it's just a package I found. I haven't stripped the car yet. >> ALL RIGHT. OH, YEAH. THIS IS FULL, TOO. WOO! WHAT'S UP? OKAY. It's going to be closer to I just found another box of meth, so probably five plus keys of meth and then pills. Cuz it's going to Albuquerque, so I don't know if they're going to try to further it or not. All right. >> Yo. I think these I think it might be I THINK THEY'RE PILLS. YEAH, it's not crunching like meth and they don't pack meth in kilos like this. I don't know if this is meth. It might all be pills. So, if you feel it, you feel how it's like >> It's solid. >> feel it's solid, but if you crush it it gives way, but you can almost feel the pills. Like you feel the little circles. >> like crack when it's meth? Is that what >> So, yeah, it'll crinkle and crack and it'll it'll be breakable. Do you know what I mean? Where like with this, plus they don't package meth like this. I've never seen meth packaged this wide. They'll package it in kilos. >> More like bricks. >> Well, yeah, well, I thought when I saw this one this is like the size of a meth kilo. But, it feels the same. You know what I mean? Super hard. If it was meth, it would like collapse under your fingers. >> Investigators ultimately reported seizing approximately 15.5 lb of methamphetamine and approximately 2.5 lb of fentanyl M30 pills. According to investigators, that amounted to roughly 11,250 individual fentanyl pills. The estimated street value of the seizure was reported at approximately $646,841. >> Hey, man. I'm going to read you something, okay? You are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to the presence of an attorney to assist you prior to questioning if you so desire. If you cannot afford an attorney, you have the right to have an attorney appointed for you prior to questioning. You can decide anytime anytime to I'm sorry. You can decide at anytime to exercise these rights, deny answering questions, or make any statements. Do you understand these rights? >> Can I ask you a question? >> Go ahead. >> Can I make a call? >> So, you can make a call later, man. We can't have you doing it right now cuz we're still on the roadside. I don't know who you're calling. It's an officer safety thing. Nothing against you personally, you know what I mean? But you you call and say umbrella or something all of a sudden a car drives by and lights us up, you know? >> Both men were taken into custody. According to court records, they were charged with transportation of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of a narcotic drug, transportation of a dangerous drug for sale, possession of a dangerous drug for sale, and possession of a dangerous drug. What do you think about this traffic stop? Was there a particular moment during the encounter that stood out to you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty. Like and subscribe to this channel to see more breaking body cam coverage like this.