Pubdate: Tue, 01 Feb 2000
Source: Bakersfield Californian (CA)
Copyright: 2000, The Bakersfield Californian.
Contact:  PO Box 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440
Website: http://www.bakersfield.com/
Author: Steve E. Swenson, Californian staff writer, METH FOUND AT 3 DRUG BUSTS AROUND KERN

Three routine drug investigations in Kern County led to the arrests of six
people on felony charges in sales and manufacturing cases, sheriff's
officials said Monday.

Eight pounds of methamphetamine were seized in Wasco, the makings of a
methamphetamine lab was found in Boron and evidence of methamphetamine and
cocaine sales were found in Taft, Cmdr. Hal Chealander said.

The arrests and seizures are symptoms of a continuing drug problem in Kern
County, Chealander said.

Penalties for the charges range from a year in jail to as many as 10 years
in prison, Chealander said.

The most recent arrests came Sunday in Taft, where deputies served a search
warrant in the 400 block of Shattuck Avenue.

About $#187: pound of methamphetamine, one ounce of cocaine, an electronic
scale, packaging for sales, surveillance equipment, drug paraphernalia and
more than $6,000 was seized from the residence, deputies said.

Alonso Lopez, 29, was apprehended as he left the back door of the home, and
Miguel Gomez, 29, was found inside the home.

Both were booked into jail on possession of methamphetamine for sale,
possession of cocaine for sale and possession of paraphernalia.

Gomez and a third suspect, age 27, were arrested for being under the
influence of a controlled substance, officials said. Lopez and Gomez were
booked into jail in lieu of posting $55,000 bail each.

On Saturday, deputies conducted a probation search for stolen property on
Steve Lewis Booth, 53, in Boron. During the search, they found three grams
of methamphetamine and items that can be used to manufacture
methamphetamine, deputies said. Booth remained in jail on several drug
charges in lieu of $30,500 bail.

A search warrant executed Friday at 1038 Eighth Place in Wasco resulted in
the seizure of eight pounds of suspected methamphetamine, a firearm and
$2,039 in cash, deputies said.

Arrested in that investigation were Adrian Reyes, 23, and Antonio Madrigal
Bernal, 28, deputies said. They remained in jail Monday in lieu of posting
$500,000 bail each.
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