Calexico man arrested after throwing personal-use marijuana out car window

Calexico Police said 29-year-old Mark Anthony Gallegos didn’t know personal-use marijuana is now legal in California.

Detective Armando Orozco said, “For personal use, yes, it is legal to have marijuana on your person.”

On Saturday, early morning, at Third and Heber Street in Calexico, Gallegos saw a police car and quickly threw a small bag out the window – which drew attention to himself. The bag, he later said, contained his personal-use marijuana.

“The officer was able to get a vehicle violation on the vehicle and was attempting to pull the vehicle over when the subject threw out a brown paper bag which later was found to have marijuana in it,” Orozco said.

Gallegos allegedly threw three bags out.

“During the conversation with the subject, the guy admitted that it was his marijuana. He was unaware that marijuana is legal in the state of California,” Orozco said.

Police allegedly found other drugs in the car.

“An amount of methamphetamine was found also in the vehicle,” Orozco said.

Materials for marijuana sale were allegedly found as well.

“He was found with items that are commonly associated with the packaging of marijuana, and the distribution of marijuana,” Orozco said.

A key in Gallego’s backpack led police to a room at a local hotel where five illegal immigrants were found.

“U.S. Border Patrol was contacted and they took custody of the subjects,” Orozco said.

On November 8th, 2016, California approved Proposition 64, which makes it legal to have up to one ounce of marijuana for personal use. This, Gallegos said, he didn’t know.

“But it’s illegal to sell it,” Orozco concluded.