Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja rescheduled the trial for Oct. 5, Variety learned.
Agulto was charged with two counts of illegal possession of a controlled substance after a traffic stop on Nov. 24, 2018.
According to court documents, on Nov. 24, 2018, two police officers were on routine patrol in Susupe during the night shift. The officers came across Agulto’s vehicle and drove behind it.
Agulto then turned left on Pachinko Ave. from Tupak Street. When the officers turned onto Pachinko Ave. they found Agulto’s vehicle stopped in the middle of the southbound lane. Police momentarily halted behind Agulto’s vehicle. Agulto then reversed approximately 20 feet on the highway toward the officers’ vehicle, nearly hitting it. Agulto drove a few feet forward, making a west-facing right turn into a residence on Pachinko Ave.
The police vehicle made a U-turn and followed Agulto.
Police said Agulto rolled down his window and raised both his hands in a shrugging fashion. When Agulto revved his engine, the police officers activated their police emergency light and went after him. Later the officers found Agulto’s vehicle parked along Bakke St. and Agulto hiding in the bushes.
After calling Agulto out and placing him in handcuffs, police searched the immediate area and found one headlamp and one case that contained small clear Ziploc bags containing crystalline substance, and one glass tube pipe with crystalline substance residue in it. When asked about it, Agulto said it was not his.
In Agulto’s vehicle, police also found other drug paraphernalia, 110 clear Ziploc bags containing crystal like substance, and one branch of “leafy” substance.
In a previous order, Judge Naraja denied Agulto’s request not to include the drugs seized in his vehicle as evidence against him.
Judge Naraja in his ruling said upon review of the totality of the circumstances, he found that there were multiple traffic violations that could have possibly served as the basis for the investigatory stop.
Based on the police officers’ testimony, the stop was supported by reasonable suspicion of a traffic infraction, the judge said.
“The police officers’ investigatory stop could also be supported by reasonable suspicion of a possible violation of parking — therefore, the officers’ stop of Agulto was justified,” the judge concluded.
Agulto is represented by the Public Defender’s Office.
