POCATELLO — A stolen phone investigation earlier this month ended with four East Idaho residents facing drug charges when a K-9 unit detected narcotics in their vehicle, court records show.

The investigation occurred Dec. 19 when a police officer received a report of a stolen phone that was actively pinging through “Find My Phone,” according to a Pocatello police report and court records the Idaho State Journal recently obtained.

Following the investigation, felony possession of a controlled substance — methamphetamine — charges and other drug-related offenses were levied against four East Idaho residents.

Ivan Zamora-Rivera, 23, of Blackfoot, was charged with meth possession with intent to distribute. Idaho Falls residents Myria Kaye Rodriguez, 27, and Kyiona Faye Palacios, 28, were both charged with meth possession and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility. Leticia Maria Zamora, 30, of Pingree, faces a possession of meth charge. All four face a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charge.

The incident began to unfold when the victim tracked the phone until locating it inside a white Acura, following the vehicle as it pinged at multiple locations, including the Buckle store parking lot and TJ Maxx near the Pocatello-Chubbuck border, police said. The victim also tracked the phone as it traveled to Idaho Falls and back, according to the report.

The officer responded to the area and contacted the occupants of the vehicle at the south side parking lot of Harbor Freight Tools, identifying the driver as Zamora and a rear passenger as Rodriguez.

Zamora told police there was another passenger inside Harbor Freight Tools and provided the name “Kee,” police said. Another officer on scene obtained a description of the woman as having purple hair and located her, later identified as Palacios, as well as Zamora-Rivera inside the store before escorting them outside, police said.

All occupants denied knowing anything about a stolen phone until officers advised that a search warrant could be obtained for the vehicle if necessary. At that point, Palacios retrieved a phone from the rear driver’s side passenger door pocket and handed it to the officers, police said, adding that the victim positively identified the phone as theirs.

While officers discussed the appropriate charges related to the stolen phone, a K-9 unit was deployed to the scene. Officers confirmed Zamora-Rivera had an outstanding warrant out of Bonneville County for failing to appear in court on unrelated charges, police and court records show.

After the K-9 officer indicated illegal narcotics were inside the car, officers searched the vehicle, beginning at the driver’s seat where Zamora had been seated. Upon opening the driver’s door, the officer observed a small plastic baggie containing a crystal-like residue in the door jamb area, police said.

Officers also located a syringe inside a purse belonging to Palacios that was in the rear driver’s side seat area, court records show.

The baggie and syringe tested positive for meth, the report says.

Officers located a zippered kit inside a backpack on the front passenger side floorboard where Zamora-Rivera had been seated that contained a scale, baggies with crystalline residue, numerous unused plastic baggies and two suspected glass meth pipes, police said.

Officers also located a black bag in the rear passenger side seat area, where Rodriguez had been seated, that contained a glass meth pipe and a glass tooter, according to the report.

All items were seized and transported to the Pocatello Police Department for evidence.

Palacios was placed in custody for possession of a controlled substance due to the syringe that tested positive for meth. Upon arrival at the Bannock County Jail, she was also found to be in possession of 6.32 grams of meth, resulting in an additional charge of introducing contraband into a jail, police said.

Rodriguez was placed in custody for possession of a controlled substance due to the suspected meth pipes in her black bag, police said, adding that while she was being processed at the jail, she was also found to be in possession of two baggies that contained suspected meth. She, too, was then charged with introducing contraband into the jail, court records show.

Zamora and Zamora-Rivera were also arrested and taken to Bannock County Jail in Pocatello.

They each appeared before 6th District Magistrate Judge David Hooste for separate arraignment hearings Dec. 22.

Zamora-Rivera’s bond was set at $15,000 on the drug charge and $35,000 on the outstanding warrant. Zamora’s and Rodriguez’s bonds were each set at $10,000. Palacios was ordered released on her own recognizance.

They were each scheduled to appear in court again Wednesday for separate preliminary hearings to elevate their cases from magistrate to district court for trial.

Zamora-Rivera waived his preliminary hearing rights and was released from jail on his own recognizance. Both Rodriguez and Zamora had their hearings rescheduled to Jan. 5 and Jan. 7, respectively. Palacios failed to appear for her hearing and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

The felony possession of meth with intent to distribute charge that Zamora-Rivera faces carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and a $25,000 fine.

The felony meth possession charge Zamora faces carries a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

The introducing contraband into a correctional facility charges that both Rodriguez and Palacios face are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.