Law enforcement officials in California took two men into custody on various drug charges after observing at a distance what appeared to them to be a drug deal. Upon further investigation, the Santa Clarita officers discovered that the vehicle one of the men was in had been reported stolen. That man faces multiple charges, including one for drug possession.
Santa Clarita Valley deputy sheriffs said the arrests took place at about 7 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the area of Soledad Canyon Road and Whites Canyon Road while they were on patrol in Canyon County. Officers took one of the men, a 23-year-old from Saugus, into custody on various charges and held him on $30,000 bail in Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. They released a 30-year-old man from Palmdale on a notice to appear in court in about 60 days.
Authorities claim that during their investigation, they found hydrocodone pills and heroin on the 23-year-old. A search of the vehicle allegedly turned up a large plastic baggie that contained methamphetamine and marijuana along with drug paraphernalia that included empty baggies, hypodermic needles and a digital scale. The officers also said that because of the man’s behavior, they suspected he was under the influence of narcotics. They administered field sobriety tests to him and then took him into custody on that charge.
A conviction on drug charges can result in jail time and other penalties. A criminal defense attorney could challenge whether the search was warranted under the circumstances and try to have the evidence dismissed if it was not. An attorney could attempt to negotiate for a lighter sentence if a conviction appears to be likely.
Source: KHTS Hometown Station AM 1220, “Santa Clarita Deputies Arrest Two After Seeing ‘Suspicious’ Activity,” Perry Smith, Nov. 15, 2013
Source: Santa Clarita Valley Signal, “Two men arrested for drug offences”, November 14, 2013