Police arrest man for possession behind Catholic Church

George Romero, about 41, of Rio Rancho, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Nov. 24.

Officers responded to the church on a report that a man was smoking a substance behind a set of stairs on the church property. They found Romero with what appeared to be foil with burnt marks and two blue pills consistent with fentanyl in his lap. Romero was also holding a lighter, a pipe to smoke the pills and a cellphone.

Romero said the pills were his girlfriend’s and he was taking pictures of them with his cellphone. He was then arrested for possession of the fentanyl and drug paraphernalia.

While doing a pat down, officers found a small plastic container of blue pills. As officers were moving Romero to the patrol car, he grabbed the small pill container and did not let go until an officer pulled his fingers open.

If convicted, Romero will serve four years in prison.