K9 Finds Meth in Murrieta Traffic Stop; Pair Arrested

Methamphetamine was recovered and two people arrested after a Murrieta police dog sniffed out the drugs during a traffic stop.

At 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, officers stopped a van for speeding northbound on Washington Avenue near Murrieta Valley High School, according to Murrieta police Sgt. Jay Froboese.

"The driver and passenger in the van appeared extremely nervous and agitated," Froboese said, in a news release.

A check on their licenses and criminal history revealed the driver, 25-year-old Kyle Turpin, was on probation for drug charges and out on bail for a recent felony arrest, Froboese said.

Both Turpin and his passenger, 38-year-old Kimberly Holguin, were arrested for allegedly being under the influence of drugs, the sergeant said.

Murrieta police service dog Kazan and handler Cpl. Jay Elliot were requested at the scene after officers allegedly found traces of meth, scales and paraphernalia in the van, Froboese said.

"Kazan found nothing more in the interior of the van, but during the exterior search located 8 grams of methaphetamine in a magnetic metal container attached to the frame rails under the van," Froboese said. "The meth was packaged for sales." 

Holguin and Turpin were booked at Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of multiple drug felony counts.

Both were being held on $30,000 bail, jail records indicated.