Earlier Arrest led Agents to Search The Residence
SALINAS—Salinas Police Detectives served a search warrant at an apartment on the 200 block of Central Avenue in South Salinas after they arrested the owner, 32-year-old Branden Morrison, on multiple drug related charges. He had been arrested originally on Tuesday, July 8.
With an assist from the Monterey County Specialized Team Intervention Narcotics and Gang (STING) the Salinas Police Department began the raid at 9:49 a.m. on Friday July 18th on the apartment, and they quickly detained 31-year-old Rickey Dinola, who was seen leaving the apartment.
“The STING Task Force is multi-agency operation made up from officers from the Salinas Police Department, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, and the Department of Justice.” Salinas Police Sergeant Eulalio Villegas-Rivera said.
Officials served the warrant at an apartment in this Central Avenue building.
Agents learned the Dinola was on Parole/Probation Release Community Supervision (PRCS), and he also had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest. When agents entered the apartment they found Morrison in his bedroom.
They also found 21-year-old Sierra Papageorgas in the bathroom, apparently trying to destroy evidence because she was found flushing the drugs down the toilet. She was searched by a female officer, and found to be in possession of a small amount of heroin.
31-year-old Michael Walraven, who has been arrested in the past several months for narcotics sales, was found in a spare bedroom and in possession of a large quantity of heroin packaged for sale when agents searched his backpack.
Remember Dinola, the man who was detained as agents were serving the warrant? A search of his room produced a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a high capacity round magazine, which were not loaded. They also found some .38 special ammunition.
A search of Morrison’s bedroom revealed methamphetamine packaged for sale, a digital scale, narcotic related indicia, some .22 caliber ammunition and a large amount of currency. The methamphetamine was packaged in a manner consistent to being for sale.
All suspects were transported and booked into the Monterey County Jail on numerous related narcotics and weapons charges.
