Two charged after New London search turns up large amount of cocaine

WILLMAR - Jose Trinidad Mendoza, 33, and Elvira Mendoza, 31, of New London, made their first court appearances Monday on first-degree drug charges for a third of a pound of cocaine found in their residence Friday when a search warrant was served on their home.
Unconditional bail was set at $100,000 for both defendants, who also each face gross misdemeanor charges of child endangerment. Both are scheduled to next appear on March 31 in Kandiyohi County District Court.
According to the complaints, CEE-VI Drug Task Force agents and other law enforcement officers served the warrant on Friday on a home along the 300 block of Third Avenue Southwest in New London.
No one was in the home and the search revealed 155 grams of cocaine in plastic bags in the master bedroom closet, along with cocaine in the pockets of articles of clothing in the bedroom. Also found in the search were two handguns and evidence that children were living in the home.
A short time later, a vehicle turned into the driveway of the residence, and the occupants, Jose and Elvira, were arrested and taken to the county jail.