By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Andrea Cardoza

Angel Martin Tolentino

WARSAW — Two people from Elkhart were recently arrested after allegedly completing a drug deal while a child was in their vehicle.

Andrea Cardoza, 33, 321 W. Hubbard Ave., Elkhart, is charged with dealing in methamphetamine, a level 2 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 4 felony; neglect of a dependent, a level 5 felony; and unlawful possession of a syringe, a level 6 felony.

Angel Martin Tolentino, 24, 1201 CR 15 Lot 22, Elkhart, is charged with dealing in methamphetamine, a level 2 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 4 felony; and unlawful possession of a syringe, a level 6 felony.

On Nov. 17, an Indiana State Police trooper noticed a vehicle speeding on CR 350W, south of US 30. The trooper also saw the vehicle fail to make a complete stop at US 30 and CR 350W.

According to court documents, the trooper pulled the vehicle over and identified the driver as Cardoza and one of the passengers as Tolentino. A minor was also in the vehicle at the time of the incident.

A K9 unit made a positive alert for illegal drugs in the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, officers found a hypodermic needle and empty plastic bags. Officers also searched the minor and found a pouch containing 5.6 grams of methamphetamine and three syringes. One of the syringes was filled with a liquid that tested positive for methamphetamine.

While searching Tolentino, officers found $1,158 in his wallet. Tolentino admitted that Cardoza met with a man at a restaurant and sold him methamphetamine. He also said that some of the money in his wallet was from the drug buy and that Cardoza gave him the money because she owed him money.

Cardoza said she gave Tolentino a ride to a restaurant and that she thought he may have had drugs because he kept telling her to slow down. When the police pulled Cardoza’s vehicle over, Tolentino gave the drugs he had to the youth. Cardoza also had text messages on her phone in which she was setting up a drug deal.

Cardoza and Tolentino were both booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Nov. 17, each with a $15,250 surety and cash bond.