Sheriff’s narcotics detectives arrest
heroin dealers
Two South Santa Barbara County men were arrested on
suspicion of possessing heroin for sale in late June by sheriff’s deputies.
After a two month investigation, said Sgt. Alex Tipolt in a press release, a search warrant was served at
the apartment of Manuel Lira, 20, in the 800-block of Orange Avenue in Santa
Barbara.
Deputies found more than a quarter ounce of a substance
that tested presumptively positive as heroin, which was packaged, and
approximately $700 and other paraphernalia associated with the sale of
narcotics, Tipolt said.
Lira was booked into the Santa Barbara Jail in lieu of
$30,000 bail on June 23.
Also booked into the jail on June 26 was a Carpinteria man, 39-year-old Louis Perez, who was found to
be in possession of approximately a quarter of a pound of heroin, packaged,
$2500, a digital scale and other alleged drug paraphernalia, Tipolt said. He also was held on $30,000 bail.
Deputies executed two search warrants at Perez’ alleged
residences. In the 500-block of Linden Avenue in Carpinteria,
they arrested Sergio Avalos on suspicion of possession of a deadly weapon,
syringes and possession of a controlled substance.
His bail originally was set at $20,000.
A second suspect, Raul Cruz, 35, was arrested on suspicion
of possessing forged government documents.
Because of his immigration status, Tipolt
said, Cruz was being held without bail.