IRVING, Texas — What began as an officer investigating a suspicious paper license plate early February 26 escalated into a vehicle pursuit and arrest involving drugs and a loaded handgun.
On that Thursday, at approximately 2:09 a.m., an Irving Police officer observed a white Ford F-150 traveling southbound on the service road of Loop 12 at Texas Plaza Drive displaying paper plates. This was suspicious because last year, Texas replaced paper temporary plates with metal plates. After running the plate through his mobile data terminal (MDT), the officer received no return, indicating the plate was not associated with the vehicle.
Based on that information, the officer attempted a traffic stop as the truck continued on the service road toward SH-183. Instead of stopping, the driver accelerated, ran a red light while turning westbound onto East Grauwyler Road, and fled northbound onto Tucasa Drive.
The vehicle entered an apartment complex, abruptly stopped, and backed into a parking space, nearly striking the patrol unit. The driver exited, locked the truck, ignored commands to sit down, and began walking toward an apartment building.
According to the arrest affidavit, the officer attempted to detain the suspect, who resisted by pulling his arms away and using his body weight to avoid being handcuffed. The officer was able to overpower him and take him into custody.
Responding officers observed a bag of marijuana in plain view inside the truck. After seizing approximately 10.9 grams of marijuana, a probable cause search revealed an unholstered, loaded .40 caliber Glock handgun with an extended magazine on the rear floorboard in the area where the officer had seen the suspect reaching during the pursuit. There's no telling what could have happened if the suspect had been able to reach that extended magazine.
Officers also located a manufacturer’s box containing five sealed THC vape cartridges labeled at 2 grams each and 93.09% THC, for a presumptive total weight of 10 grams.
The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Omar Santos Bartolo, did not have a driver’s license. Officers found more than $500 in cash on his person. Police said the combination of cash, packaging, and firearm is consistent with narcotics distribution.
Bartolo was charged with:
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Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance PG2
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Possession of Marijuana
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Evading Arrest Detention with a Vehicle
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Resisting Arrest
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Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Dallas County records shows that Bartolo was previously arrested by Seagoville Police in August 2025 for Evading Arrest Detention Causing Serious Bodily Injury. That case remains pending.
