REFUGIO COUNTY, Texas — A pickup truck was turned upside down by Refugio County deputies after a traffic stop along Highway 77, north of town, on Wednesday afternoon. Sheriff Pinky Gonzalez said the two women inside the truck were stopped because of having fake paper license plates.
Then when they were questioned, they became nervous. The truck was searched and guns were found everywhere.
"It's an issue and it's a problem we're having, you know, these guns going south, you know, it's just as bad as these open borders," Gonzalez said. "Just as bad because these guns are being used by the cartels. The cartels are using them against their own people against us, you know?"
While the sheriff was pleased over the discovery of all of those weapons. He is disappointed that the state has cut back on the Stonegarden Grant which would help him better patrol Highway 77.
"I think we're getting, 500,000 [dollars] maybe this year and we had a little over 800,000 [dollars] last year." Gonzalez said.
He said he’s happy to get any amount of money from the state but that $800,000 he used to get helped to buy vehicles and attract deputies looking to make more money.
"So, we have to be competitive and I'm not saying we rely on Stonegarden to do this, but it does help," Gonzalez said. "It does help a lot and it's very enticing for the deputy that I do have here, that they have the opportunity to work overtime and make a little money."
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