Lubbock Police said the undercover narcotics operation that resulted in a car crash and death of a 54-year-old woman Thursday morning will not dissuade them from running similar operations in the future.
“Yesterday was horrible,” Assistant Chief Jon Caspell said. “It was horrible for the family, it was horrible for us. We’re having to deal with all this too, but we have a duty, we have a job to do. Despite how some things went yesterday, we’re going to work on behalf of the family and the community to make sure justice is served on Mr. Lovato and we’re going to continue.”
Police said an undercover narcotics sting at a motel room on 19th street Thursday morning set off a chain reaction that lead to the deadly crash.
Caspell said sometimes operations don’t happen they way they are meant to.
“Everything is surrounding these drugs,” Caspell said. “From the manufacturing, to the dealing, to the using. It’s really just such a dangerous environment that we’re having to take precautions with it.”
According to Police, the suspect Jonathan Lovato also had methamphetamine and marijuana on him.
Caspell said there’s an influx of methamphetamines in Lubbock and the department is working to try to keep those drugs off the streets.
“A lot of these cartels and organized groups are really tying to corner the market with some of these more hardcore drugs. Whether that’s more money, whether that’s because they are easier to make, we’re obviously looking at all of that,” Caspell said.
Police said Lovato has a lengthy criminal record and he was even arrested three days prior to the crash on charges of evading arrest.
“It’s almost like the revolving door where we’re arresting people,” Caspell said. “They bond out and they’re at it again. So that’s certainly a challenge, is building up enough of a longstanding case against these drug dealers so they stay in for a long time.”
Caspell said police are going to keep doing their part to keep the streets drug-free.
“We’re going to continue to be proactive,” Caspell said. “Our job is to do the absolute best that we can to try and keep everybody safe, to try and get these drugs off the street and we’re going to continue to do that.”
