IRVING, Texas — A routine patrol by an Irving police officer led to the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of multiple controlled substances following a traffic stop Friday afternoon.
At approximately 4:32 p.m. on March 20, 2026, an officer observed a white Nissan pickup truck with Oklahoma license plates traveling with a rear tag that could not be clearly read from 50 feet due to damage to the bumper obstructing the view. As the officer attempted to get closer, the driver repeatedly turned onto different streets, appearing to avoid contact.
While following the vehicle, the officer observed the driver fail to signal a left turn from westbound West Rochelle Road onto southbound North Belt Line Road and initiated a traffic stop.
The driver was identified as 34-year-old Mitchell Kvaal. The passenger was identified as 30-year-old Karen Sarahi Duran-Quintero, who presented a Mexico passport for identification. Officers noted both occupants appeared visibly nervous during the encounter. A camouflage backpack was observed on the passenger-side floorboard near the center console.
A records check revealed Kvaal had multiple prior arrests and convictions for drug trafficking and weapons offenses in Oklahoma and California.
A K-9 unit was requested to the scene. K-9 Fenix conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics near the passenger door. Based on the alert, officers conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle.
Inside Duran-Quintero’s purse, officers located a clear plastic baggie containing cocaine residue and a white piece of paper containing approximately 0.8 grams of loose marijuana. Duran-Quintero was placed under arrest. During a search of her person, officers discovered additional narcotics concealed in the waistband of her pants, including a pink baggie containing approximately 0.1 grams of cocaine, a ziplock bag containing approximately 5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and a THC vape pen weighing approximately 15 grams and containing about 0.5 grams of THC oil.
Both Kvaal and Duran-Quintero were transported to the Irving Jail.
Kvaal was charged with two Class C misdemeanors, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to use a turn signal.
Duran-Quintero faces multiple charges, including possession of marijuana under 2 ounces, possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1/1-B under 1 gram for cocaine, possession of a controlled substance penalty group 2 between 4 and 200 grams for psilocybin, and possession of a controlled substance penalty group 2 under 1 gram for THC.
Court records show that Duran-Quintero has a prior conviction for assault family violence in March 2022, stemming from an incident in which she stabbed her boyfriend causing injury. She was sentenced to 18 months of probation as part of a plea agreement. Duran-Quintero is a graduate of the Uplift Luna Preparatory School in Dallas.
