His Son Was Also Arrested
SALINAS—Undercover Police Officers with the Salinas Police Arrested Salinas resident and North Salinas High School Coach 55-year-old Ronald Stevens for possession of cocaine after he bought the drug while on campus.
Wednesday, April 9, Salinas Police had the area of the baseball field in the back of the school and the parking lot under surveillance after they received a tip that drug transactions were taking place in the area.
At 4 p.m. police observed a vehicle drive into the parking lot and park. A male identified as Stevens approached the vehicle and made the drug buy. Stevens was there at the baseball field because he is an Assistant Baseball Coach for the NSHS Boy’s Baseball Team. Police then placed the vehicle under further surveillance as it drove away.
The parking lot and Baseball field at North Salinas High School
The Vehicle was stopped a short time later and the lone driver, identified as Alberto Manriquez, was arrested for his part of the transaction. Undercover Officers then made contact with Stevens, who had gone back to the baseball field, and arrested him. During a search of Stevens’ vehicle, police found a small bundle of cocaine. Police also obtained search warrants for both suspects’ residences. The search produced an ounce of cocaine and some marijuana at Stevens’ residence that was under the control of Stevens’ son Shawn Stevens, who was also arrested.
“It appears the Stevens made the drug buy during the team practice.” Salinas Police Commander Henry Gomez said, “We searched both residences, but did not find anything in Manriquez’s home.”
Stevens was charged with possession of cocaine, while his son Shawn was charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana for sale.
All three men were taken to the police department for further investigation and then booked into the Monterey County Jail. Manriquez was charged with possession of cocaine, possession for sale, transporting cocaine and providing false identification to officers.
