Atos, the newest Benicia Police Department K-9 police dog, made his first drug discovery during a traffic stop conducted by his hander, Benicia police Officer Brian Collins, Lt. Frank Hartig said Thursday.

The stop took place March 14 on the westbound Interstate 780 ramp at East Fifth Street, Hartig said, and led to the arrest of two Benicia residents who were accused of several drug-related charges.

The incident began at 1:56 p.m. that day when Collins stopped a vehicle after he observed a minor traffic infraction, Hartig said.

The driver was identified as Alejandra Chavez, 27, he said.

Collins also saw a male passenger hiding on the rear floorboards of the vehicle, Hartig said. He identified the man as John Tanner, 33, who Hartig said Collins knew as the subject of an active felony arrest warrant.

Hartig said Collins took Tanner into custody based on the no-bail felony arrest warrant for possession of a controlled substance out of Solano County.

In addition, the officer determined Tanner also was on active felony probation with a clause that allowed search and seizure, Hartig said.

Collins and Atos, who trained in narcotic detection, searched the vehicle, and the dog signaled Collins about the presence of narcotics in two separate containers within the vehicle’s passenger compartment, Hartig said.

He said the containers held two grams of methamphetamine and five grams of heroin, and numerous drug paraphernalia and other items related to drug sales also were found.

Hartig said Chavez was arrested and charged with felony drug possession, transportation of a controlled substance for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tanner also was arrested and charged with felony drug possession, transportation of a controlled substance for sale and possession of drug paraphernalia, including a hypodermic needle. Both were booked into Solano County Jail, Fairfield.

“This is the first real-world narcotic find for K-9 Atos that did not take place in a training environment,” Hartig said. “K-9 Atos is certified to alert to odors associated with marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and hash.”

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