A routine patrol quickly escalated on February 14, 2025, when APD officers spotted a vehicle linked to a felony robbery suspect near a Red Roof Inn at Menaul and University.
After contacting Merena Perez outside a hotel room, officers discovered drug paraphernalia and a firearm in plain sight. What followed was a major bust—officers uncovered nearly $1 million in drugs, along with $47,000 in cash and multiple guns.
The situation intensified when another man in the room, Xavier Garcia, bolted—leaping from a second-floor balcony and sprinting across a busy intersection. Officers gave chase, eventually deploying a drone to track him as he tried to hide near a nearby hotel.
The investigation remains active, underscoring the high-risk nature of the encounter.
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