APD officers seized guns and narcotics in two unrelated incidents early Tuesday morning. Both incidents started at around 2:45 AM.
Officers watching the area of the Sundown Motel at 3612 Amarillo Blvd. East for narcotics violations saw a male and female arguing with a second female in front of a room there. The man shoved one female, knocking her to the ground. The officer approached to intervene. One of the females saw the officer and got into a white Toyota and drove away. The officer stopped her in the 3600 block of NE 24th. She was Cynthia Marie Kucinski WF 52. She was in possession of narcotic paraphernalia and what is believed to be methamphetamine that was in her purse. A search of her vehicle also yielded more of the same crystalline substance for a total of approximately 3 grams. Officers went to the motel room and made contact with the male and other female that had been involved in the dispute. Officers secured consent to search the room. They discovered about 8 grams of methamphetamine, 112 grams of marijuana, marijuana rolled into cigars, and a 9mm handgun. The male, John Steven Hernandez WM 36 was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance over 4 grams/less than 200 grams, and possession of marijuana over 4 ounces. The other occupant of the room, Crystal D. Morales WF 30 was arrested for the same manufacture/delivery charge, a charge of possession of marijuana over 2 ounces, and an outstanding warrant on a stalking charge, issued out of Hale County. Both were booked into the Potter County Detention Center.
At about the same time, in northwest Amarillo, an officer saw a man that he knew did not have a valid driver’s license driving a car. He stopped him in the 1400 block of NW14th. The officer spoke to the black male driver. He then approached the passenger side of the car. He saw a clear plastic bag containing a white crystalline substance on the curb on the passenger side of the car. The officer had the passenger step out and questioned him about the substance, which appeared to have been thrown from the car. While this investigation was under way, another officer discovered a .380 caliber handgun on the ground in the same area as the apparent methamphetamine. Officers determined that the passenger, Johnny Allen Chadwick, WM 28, had thrown the gun and baggie out of the vehicle. Officers arrested him and booked him into the Potter County Detention Center on charges of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance over 4 grams, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. The driver of the vehicle was issued a warning citation and released.
