Routine Traffic Stop in Highland Nets Meth, Ecstasy, Fugitive Bust

Two men pulled over in a normally-routine traffic stop were taken into sheriff's custody after they were found to be in possession of drugs for sale-- and one of the men was linked to a recent home invasion robbery, police said.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's department reports that Highland deputies stopped a vehicle in the area of Greenspot Road near the 210 freeway just after midnight Wednesday due to expired registration.


"As deputies approached the vehicle the passenger... threw a meth pipe on the ground," Sheriff's Deputy Madril reported.

That man, identified as 43-year-old Darrell Mayfield of San Bernardino, is known as a "career criminal" who was on active felony probation, according to Madril.

"During a search of the vehicle deputies located a loaded pistol and a large quantity of methamphetamine (packaged for sales)," Madril said.

Then, the driver-- identified as 38-year-old Matthew Pesch of Highland-- was found to be carrying ecstasy and an additional baggie of methamphetamine, according to the sheriff's department.

What's more, while at the scene, deputies realized the vehicle matched the description of one used in a Sept. 17 home invasion robbery reported out of Colton.

"Colton Police Officers responded to the scene and confirmed Matthew Pesch was the suspect and positively identified by the victim during the robbery," Deputy Madril said.

Both men were booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino.