Principal released from Mexicali jail for lack of evidence

MEXICALI — A Calexico school principal who was arrested here Friday afternoon for alleged possession of methamphetamine was released by day’s end after a Mexican federal prosecutor determined the contents of a plastic bag “found” by Mexicali police were not drugs.

Oscar Olivarria, 39, principal of the Calexico Mission School, was arrested at about 5:58 p.m. in Mexicali after he was pulled over in the 2012 Mini Cooper he was driving at C Street and Obregón Avenue for allegedly running a stop sign.

The officers on scene reported the suspect was “nervous” and “violent.” They reportedly checked the suspect and found nothing illegal.

They then inspected the vehicle and found a small plastic bag under the seat containing an undisclosed amount of a substance they identified as methamphetamine.

However, the federal prosecutor in Mexicali determine the bag did not contain drugs, without providing further details.

The arresting officers in Mexicali reportedly did not show up before the prosecutor to confirm or defend their report.

Media reports in Mexicali suggest the evidence was planted. However, this has not been confirmed by official sources.

According to reports in Mexicali, members of Olivarria’s family lobbied for the educator’s release.