Two from Moriarity being held on drug charges

Two transients who attempted to steal a gallon of iodine from a local feed store were arrested Wednesday for attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, among other charges.

Clorinda Lopez, 23, and Vincent Duran, 30, both from Moriarity, are being held at the Roosevelt County Detention Center. They are charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to manufacture drugs and resisting and evading arrest. Duran is also facing charges of shoplifting.

Dwayne Disney, owner of the Slash-D-Three Livestock Feed and Supply, said he tracked down the duo after he noticed them steal a gallon of iodine from his store. Iodine can be used in the making of methamphetamine.

“I was trying to close the store when he (Duran) came in by himself,” Disney said. “He looked at the shelves then approached me and asked me about feed. He saw the iodine — he knew what he wanted.”

Disney said Duran took a gallon of iodine and exited the store.

“I got into my vehicle and chased him,” Disney said. “I really only wanted to get his license plate numbers but then I saw that he only had temporary tags.”

Disney said Duran and Lopez headed down Highway 480 and drove onto Roosevelt County Road AG. They pulled over into a ditch and ran into pasture land, Disney said. Disney pulled his vehicle next to the other vehicle and waited for authorities.

“I waited there until the police got there,” Disney said. “While I was calling my wife, they dispatched them from Elida and Melrose. They were coming from all directions. I think they (suspects) ran out of gas.”

The suspects ran onto pasture land and laid in the grass until authorities apprehended them, according to police reports.

“We arrived there a couple of minutes after Disney,” Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Deputy Charles Perez said. “For whatever reason, the lady took off her tennis shoes and we found the two suspects about 10 feet from the shoes. They were 80 to 100 feet from the vehicle.”