Citizens Get Involved to Stop Drug Activity
Total of Seven Suspects Arrested
SANTA CRUZ—Numerous complaints by citizens led the Santa Cruz Anti-Crime team along with the Santa Cruz Police to team up and start a street level investigation. After a lengthy investigation seven suspects have been arrested.
Aundre Thompson
Back in September the Anti-Crime team and the Santa Cruz Police Department started the investigation in response to the complaint’s about the flagrant drug use at city parks.
Shaelyn Gonzales
During the investigation authorities from Santa Cruz used various techniques and numerous resources. None was more important than the information provided by citizens in the area of the city parks.
“We had numerous complaints about people selling in San Lorenzo Park which happens to be next to the court house,” Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team Supervisor Eric Montalbo said. “ Some of the court employees included Assistant District Attorneys and some investigators.”
Brice Page
The agencies were able to come up vital evidence in these cases thanks to the information provided. A total of seven suspects were identified and have been charged with various charges that include possession for sales of narcotics.
The seven suspects are – Larry Gardner, sentenced to five years for three counts of sales of a controlled substance; Aundre Thompson, charged with possession for sales of a controlled substance with a prior felony conviction; Michael Sweatt, charged possession for sales of a controlled substance, sales of marijuana with a prior felony; Willie Palmer, charged with possession for sales of a controlled substance with a prior conviction; Shaelyn Gonzales, charged with two counts of sales of a controlled substance; Brian Taylor, charged with sales of a controlled substance; Brice Page, charged with sales of marijuana.
Larry Gardner
Gardner is the only one of the seven to be sentenced. The others are pending their court appearances to face the charges that have already been filed by the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office.
The Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team encourages anyone who has information about these cases to call the SCCACT Tip Line at 831-454-2320.
Read More:
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Seven Suspected Drug Dealers Arrested in Sweep
