Cops nab man on warrant

Sonora police said they arrested a man Tuesday afternoon on a felony drug possession warrant out of Santa Ana and later discovered he was in the country illegally.

Pedro Velazquez, 32, was booked into Tuolumne County Jail, along with Niccole Davis, 30, of Sonora, who was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers were assisting Tuolumne County Child Welfare Services workers on a welfare check of a 4-month-old boy at the 300 block of Hospital Road.   

It was the same residence where officers earlier this month removed two young girls, ages 8 years and 4 months, after arresting their father, Juan Velazquez Herrera, 29, on suspicion of felony child endangerment and drug possession.    

Pedro Velazquez allegedly identified himself as someone else to officers, who ran a warrants check on the date of birth and name Velazquez provided.    

Officers discovered the warrant from Santa Ana for Velazquez and asked a dispatcher to contact Santa Ana authorities to identify the wanted person’s tattoos, which matched Velazquez’s, according to Sonora police.    

During the check, officers also discovered Velazquez had been deported in 2003 for the same charge and was in the country illegally, Sonora police said.    

Davis was allegedly found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and placed under arrest.    

The child was turned over to the custody of Child Welfare Services.