Two arrests in two months for purported drug dealer

By R.L. McCullough
on Friday, July 16th, 2010 at 8:11 pm

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SANTA BARBARA — Arrested last month on multiple drug charges, a 29-year-old man found himself in cuffs again on Tuesday, along with several alleged associates.

Brandon Gaffke was first apprehended by Santa Barbara County narcotics detectives after leading them on a car chase through city streets on June 18. During the course of that pursuit, Gaffke allegedly tossed methamphetamine and heroin out of his car. Following that initial arrest, he quickly posted bail and was released from jail.

According to sheriff’s spokesman Drew Sugars, narcotics detectives recently heard that Gaffke had returned to his drug dealing enterprise “just two weeks after his first arrest.” On Tuesday, sheriff’s and city police officers served a search warrant at Gaffke’s home, discovering methamphetamine and heroin as well as an AK-47 rifle and substantial amounts of cash.

Gaffke was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on his second round of charges of possession of methamphetamine and heroin for sales, possession of fireworks, possession of drug paraphernalia, and committing an offense while on bail for the June 18 charges.

Associates found at the Gaffke residence were also taken into custody, including Vannessa Krohn, 27, Shannon Beckstead, 40, and Glen Olson, 40, each booked into county jail on similar charges relating to possession of controlled substances for sales, possession of firearms, and solicitation of another to purchase narcotics.