Pearsall man in stolen truck faces drug charges

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A 46-year-old habitual offender was arrested on multiple felony charges Saturday morning, March 1, after Frio County sheriff’s deputies found him behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle.
According to a report on the case, emergency dispatchers received a call regarding a stolen vehicle seen on FM 1581; deputies were able to effect a traffic stop near the intersection of FM 117 and CR 4677 shortly after midnight Saturday.
The driver, identified as Raul Martinez, was driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Emergency dispatchers confirmed Martinez was wanted on a warrant for assault causing bodily injury.
Martinez was handcuffed and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed several bags of narcotics including methamphetamine and cocaine.

Raul Martinez

The suspect was transported to the Frio County Jail without further incident and charged with several felony offenses, including two charges for possession of illegal narcotics, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and an active warrant for assault causing bodily injury to a family member.
Records filed at the sheriff’s office show Martinez was arrested in February on two felony drug charges for possession and manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.
Martinez was previously arrested in July 2024 and charged with evading arrest or detention. A month later, he was detained on unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and evading arrest or detention.
In September 2023, Martinez was the prime suspect in a shooting that occurred on the west side of town near a popular barbecue eatery. Pearsall police were able to watch video surveillance footage from area businesses to cross-reference with witness statements and identified Martinez in that case.
A month after the shooting incident, Martinez was arrested on two felony warrants for deadly conduct and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.