Buffalo Wild Wings Bartender arrested
Albuquerque police arrested a local bartender Monday who was selling cocaine from a West Side bar.
Detectives from APD’s East Side Narcotics unit took Dominic Garcia, 33, into custody following an undercover investigation in which a detective and an informant purchased cocaine from the bartender inside Buffalo Wild Wings, 10015 Coors NW.
Garcia has been charged with trafficking cocaine. He was in custody Tuesday at the Metropolitan Detention Center in lieu of a $17,500 bond.
“This was outstanding work by our detectives,” Albuquerque Deputy Chief of Police Paul Fiest said. “Who knows how many people he sold drugs to out of the restaurant.”
The arrest came after the East Side Narcotics Unit received several complaints that drugs were being dealt out of the restaurant. A confidential informant who was familiar with what was occurring inside the tavern came forward with information that Garcia was the dealer.
Narcotics investigators set up surveillance on the restaurant and watched as Garcia conducted several transactions in which he sold cocaine to undercover officers and informants. Following Garcia’s arrest, detectives found a hidden compartment inside a public restroom that was used to exchange drugs and money.
An ounce of cocaine was found in Garcia’s car today during the execution of a search warrant. Detectives also found a scale and packaging materials for distribution amongst the drug paraphernalia.
The investigation into Garcia is still ongoing.
