Traffic Stop leads to Arrests in Colorado Co.

On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at approximately 12:24 PM, Investigator Tyler Pavlicek from the Colorado County Sheriff's Office, assigned to the Criminal Interdiction Unit, initiated a traffic stop on a KIA SUV traveling east on Interstate 10 near mile marker 695 for a traffic violation.
Investigator Pavlicek made contact with the driver, Christopher Rivas, 29, from Spring. The passengers were identified as John Rivas, 30, from Katy, and Gabriella Cervantes, 27, from Spring.
After speaking with the driver and the passengers, Investigator Pavlicek requested consent to search the vehicle, which was denied. Subsequently, he called for assistance from Deputy O. Buitron of the Austin County Sheriff’s Office, who brought his K9, Knox. The K9 indicated a positive alert on the vehicle.
During the investigation, Investigator Pavlicek discovered multiple plastic bags containing US currency wrapped in rubber bands. All three occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance and money laundering. The total amount of currency seized was $31,513.00.